VISITING ST PIO CENTER IN LIBIS

It was my fourth visit to St Pio of Pietrelcina Center in Libis, Quezon City last June 12, 2012.  This time around I brought with me my classmate from my MT class, Jackie and Weng, and my brother, Paul, to St. Pio Chapel.

The facade of the chapel is similar to the church of San Giovanni Rotondo where St Pio  lived.

Every time I go to St Pio Center, I feel like I am visiting a friend.  Saint Pio of Pietrelcina has been one of my favorite saints along with St.Benedict,  St Joseph, and St. Claire.


But who is Saint Pio of Pietrelcina?

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina or Padre Pio as he was called when he was still alive, was a Capuchin monk who was given the gift of stigmata or the wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ. He bore these wounds for 50 years and when he died the wounds got completely healed and there were no scars. He was born in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy and lived out his priestly life in the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo. A lot of people visited him when he was still alive to have their confession and to ask for his prayers and through him many received conversion and the miracles they desperately need. He died on September 23, 1968.  When his body was exhumed in 2000, they have discovered that his body did not decay.  His incorruptible body can be viewed in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.  St Pio had the gift of healing, bilocation, perfume, prophesy, and extraordinary discernment.  He was canonized in 2002 by Blessed John Paul II.

This encasing is how the incorruptible body of St Pio is displayed in Pietrelcina, Italy

My classmates kept on commenting how beautiful the center was and despite being in the heart of the busy business district of Libis, it was very peaceful inside as if all the noise in the world has been shut off.

Some of the relics on display at the chapel were the gloves of Saint Pio which he used to hide the wounds in his palms, his capuchin habit, and the cloth used to wrap his gloves when it was transported from Italy to the Philippines.

the relics that can be seen at St Pio Center

There's a big statue of Saint Pio on the left side of the altar which has the most loving eyes I've ever seen. In front of the statue is a pew where you can kneel, pray and write down your prayer requests. On the right side of the altar is a portrait of Our Lady of Grace similar to Saint Pio's favorite painting of our Lady at San Giovanni Rotondo.  I was not able to get the pictures of these because I don't want to disturb the people praying in front of it.

On one side of the wall of the chapel you will see the framed testimonies of people whose prayers were answered through the intercession of Saint Pio. I was able to read TV host Christine Bersola-Babao's testimony about her answered prayer when she prayed for a new baby and Julia Gomez (Lucy Torres' mom) testimony about her healing from cancer.

Aside from the main chapel, you can also visit Reverend Father Alessio Parente Patio.  Father Alessio was St. Pio's most loved assistant in Pietrelcina.  After St Pio's death, Fr Alessio devoted his life to spreading the devotion to St. Pio.  Here at the patio you will see the life size statue of St Pio and the scourged crucified Christ.

St Francis Chapel - St. Pio was the named our beloved Saint took when he became a Capuchin priest.  He was baptized Francesco Forgione and was named after St Francis of Assisi because his mother was a devotee of St Francis.  St Francis of Assisi received the gift of stigmata too.

Inside St Francis Chapel , St Francis on the left and St Pio on the right

I have been here at St Pio Center before but I have never been inside the Sacred Place.  

It is very solemn inside the Il Luogo Sacro.  Inside you'll see the:

Life size statue of St Francis

This wooden cross have many rosaries hanging on it.  I am not sure if this was left by those whose prayers
were answered or those who were still waiting for their petitions to be heard

the image of our Lord after He was taken down from the cross

From the Sacred Place we were led out to the Garden of Gethsemane 

And from the Garden of Gethsemane into another garden where you can see this beautiful fountain and the big statue of Mama Mary.

There are two shops inside the center if you want to buy religious items specially novena for St Pio.  One is near Fr Alessio Parente Patio and the other is by the parking lot.

Here are the schedule of masses at the center:


Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 4:30 pm Rosary and St Pio Novena
followed by the 5:30 pm Holy Mass and then anointing of holy oil and veneration of St Pio's relics


Wednesday 4:15 Rosary and Novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Pio

followed by the 5:30 pm Holy Mass and then anointing of holy oil and veneration of St Pio's relics


Saturday - Anticipated Mass 4:30 pm Rosary and St Pio Novena
5:30 pmHoly Mass followed by anointing of holy oil & veneration of the St. Pio’s relics


Sunday 10 am Holy Mass followed by veneration of the relics
            12:15 pm Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil
            5:00 pm Holy Mass followed by veneration of the relics
            7:00 p, Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil


Every 23rd day of the Month 
            12:15 pm Holy Mass followed by anointing of holy oil
             4:30 pm Rosary and St Pio Novena
            followed by the 5:30 pm Holy Mass and then anointing of holy oil and veneration of St     Pio's relics


St Pio's center is open from 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight


St Pio's Center is located at RER Compound 188 E. Rodriguez  Avenue, Bagumbayan, Quezon City.


For directions on how to drive or commute to St Pio's Center click this.


So if your soul needs rest or you just want to be peaceful and  to pray, St Pio Center in Libis, Quezon City is a good place to visit.


Thank you, classmate Jackie, for the pictures.