This year’s festival was a big success with groups traveling in on buses from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The day began with the Padre Pio Garden being blessed by Farther Flavio. This garden was built last year with the help of Spirit of Hope of Johnston. The garden is circular, about 30-feet diameter, with a custom steal sculpture of Padre Pio....

Hundreds of people packed into the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on Tuesday for a rare chance to connect with a Catholic saint. The relics of Padre Pio were on display at the cathedral for the first time. Prayer in the presence of these holy artifacts is said to strengthen the connection to Padre Pio. Some travel to his hometown...

Abel Ferrara, whose gritty New York exploitation films of the 1980s and 1990s delved into the soulless evils of drug addiction, corruption and sexual violence, pays homage to one of Italy’s best-known and most revered saints in his newest film, “Padre Pio.” That the film, which stars Shia LaBeouf and premieres at the Venice Film Festival next week,...

Pietrelcina, hometown of Padre Pio, unveiled a new statue of its patron saint this fall, and it’s a truly remarkable piece of art. The statue pays tribute to the role of the U.S. in the life of St. Pio, and the site is expected to be a go-to destination in 2022, when Pietrelcina celebrates the 20th anniversary of Pio’s canonization by Pope St. John...

The Municipality of Pietrelcina, hometown of Padre Pio, has a new statue of its patron saint. The breathtaking artwork is remarkable in its own right, but even more so is the dedication it bears. The installation marks the first time an Italian town has dedicated a plaza to “the people of the United States of America.”  The Pio Foundation reports t...

“Pray, hope and don’t worry.” The most famous words of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina continue to take on added meaning amid difficult times, and his steadfast faith will be celebrated this month at his namesake parish in Vineland. The annual Saint Padre Pio Festival, now in its 19th year, will be held Sept. 26 on the grounds of Our Lady of Pompeii...

 In late April 1968, Gino and Anna Dagri of Queens were honeymooning in their native Italy when she insisted they visit Padre Pio, the future saint known for bearing stigmata — wounds corresponding to the wounds of the crucifixion of Christ. At first, Gino wasn’t interested, but he soon agreed to accompany his bride to Padre Pio’s church in the tow...

During many treks to the Jersey Shore I take different routes, my favorite being Route 40 East because it passes through quaint small towns and farmland. My small red Fiat 500X zips past a handful of farmers’ produce stands promoting freshly picked strawberries, watermelons and peaches, festive garden stores, local wineries, various gift shops, a w...

Shia LaBeouf is looking to make a comeback after the recent troubles that he’s found himself in. Director Abel Ferrara has revealed that LaBeouf is set to take on the lead role in his next movie. The story of that film centers on the younger years of Italian Saint Padre Pio. Willem Dafoe is also looking to join the film. Ferrara said in a statement...

A Roman Catholic group dedicated to a popular Italian saint sued a southeastern Michigan township Wednesday after the local government rejected plans for a chapel and prayer trail in a wooded area. The project was approved by the planning commission in Livingston County's Genoa Township, but the township board rejected it, 5-2, on May 3. Catholic...