Relics of St. Padre Pio will be displayed at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, 132 S. High St., Lancaster, from Sunday, June 4 to Wednesday, June 7. People can pray before the relics prior to and after the 11:15 a.m. Mass on June 4, and after the 7 a.m. Masses from June 5 to 7.
Bishop Earl Fernandes will celebrate the 11:15 a.m. Sunday Mass, which will include a Eucharistic procession. A Mass dedicated to Padre Pio at 7 p.m. June 7 will close the display.
The relics include crusts of the saint’s wounds, a lock of his hair and gauze with his bloodstains, each in a separate reliquary. They are on a tour of the United States, Canada and Mexico sponsored by the St. Pio Foundation.
Nearly 3,000 people came to venerate the relics when they were shown at St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Columbus’ German Village neighborhood in October 2022.
St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin friar, died at age 81 in 1968 and lived for most of his life at a friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. He is best-known for bearing the stigmata, the five wounds of Jesus Christ; for experiencing other spiritual phenomena; and for his powers as a healer. He was canonized in 2002.
St. Christopher to celebrate Feast of St. Anthony
Columbus St. Christopher Church, 1420 Grandview Ave., will have its annual celebration of the Feast of St. Anthony at the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Tuesday, June 13.
Concelebrants will be the parish’s pastor, Father Wojciech Stachura, SAC; its former pastor, Msgr. John Cody; and Father William Metzger. In the tradition of the feast, blessed bread will be distributed following Mass.
Refreshments will be available after Mass in the hall on the second floor of Trinity Elementary School. The area is elevator-accessible.
St. Anthony Circle #1 again will present two scholarships to Trinity eighth-graders who will be continuing with their Catholic education. The scholarship recipients are Tlayani Huerta-Henry, who will attend Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School, and Allison Ann Basil, who will enter Columbus Bishop Ready High School.
Local author to speak at St. Stephen the Martyr
Cecile Smith, best-selling Columbus author, will speak at Columbus St. Stephen the Martyr Church, 4131 Clime Road, at the monthly meeting of the Women’s Club on Monday, June 12.
The gathering, which will begin at noon, including a luncheon, a short meeting and then Smith’s presentation titled “Time to Reflect.”
Smith is the author of Connecting with God in the Garden, which explains how God reveals Himself in nature and shows how to build a tangible friendship with Him here on earth.
Her Inspirational Journal for All Seasons shows how to be still and hear His voice in the heart, converse with Him for daily inspiration, and soak up the beauty, wisdom and love of creation.
Snith’s talk will focus on finding time to connect with God and trusting the seasons as a guide.
For reservations please contact Barb Sweetman at 614-589-2888.
Retirement party planned for Father Coleman
Father James Coleman is retiring on Tuesday, July 11 after 15 years as pastor of Columbus Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, eight years previously as its associate pastor and 53 years in the priesthood.
Parishioners will honor him with a retirement party on Saturday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the parish’s Don Ross Hall and present him with a new car. Anyone wishing to contribute may send a check or cash gift to the church at 5225 Refugee Road, Columbus, OH 43232. Checks should be made out to Father James Coleman (not to the parish), with “car” noted on the memo line. The closing date for contributions is Sunday, June 11.
To RSVP to attend the party, call the parish office at (614) 861-1242 by Saturday, June 3.