Founded in 2014 by Luciano Lamonarca and Jere Palazzolo, the Saint Pio Foundation carries out several interesting initiatives that involve an increasing number of members and supporters.
In this interview, Maestro Lamonarca offers an insight into the main activities and objectives of the Foundation.
Why did you create the Saint Pio Foundation?
The Foundation aims at promoting Padre Pio’s spiritual figure and message at a deeper level, in order to allow those who have only heard of him, like younger generations, to learn more about one of the most venerated Saints of the Catholic Church.
Last year, the Puglia Center of America – which I founded to promote Apulia region – sponsored the only official events held in the U.S. to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Padre Pio’s death. On that occasion I met thousands of his devotees, and some of them admitted to be unfamiliar with the Saint’s virtues. During those meetings I also became friend with Jere Palazzolo, President of the Saint Pio Foundation and a pioneer in bringing Padre Pio’s vision to the U.S. by supporting the creation of the “Casa San Pio” clinic in Lexington, Kentucky.
What is the strength of Padre Pio’s message?
This is hard for me to tell. I am a native of Apulia and every year I used to visit San Giovanni Rotondo and the sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo on a pilgrimage with my beloved mother. Yet my faith and respect for Padre Pio have never been greater than now that I live in New York. There I have met many devotees who, with faith and determination, brought the Saint’s spiritual message to the U.S. and to the new generations.
I believe that Padre Pio was an extraordinary man before he was a Saint, a man who suffered injustice and accepted the stigmata with love and devotion for over 50 years, helping millions of people who asked him for grace or absolution.
Did religious institutions support the project?
Besides me, acting as CEO and artistic director, the only other member of the Foundation’s Board is the president Jere Palazzolo. We also have a Religious Advisory Board, Committees, Goodwill Ambassadors, and Friends of the Saint Pio Foundation.
Religious institutions willing to become members of the Foundation are requested to promote it through their Archdiocese or Diocese, and to establish contacts with the Catholic community to actively support our cause.
Each member of the Religious Advisory Board must also sponsor an annual event called “Saint Pio Award Ceremony”, a fundraiser to benefit the Foundation and its mission.
Can you tell us more about the Awards?
They acknowledge the contribution of supporters of the Catholic Church and, in particular, of the Saint Pio Foundation. Every year, the Foundation appoints a maximum of 3 awardees for each Archdiocese or Diocese willing to host the award ceremony. The award is represented by a 60x40in oil-on-canvas painting by a famous Italian artist, which portrays the awardee, Saint Pio, the hosting Archbishop or Bishop, and the celebrity invited to bestow the honor.
What are the main activities of the Foundation? And how can they be supported?
The funds raised by the Saint Pio Foundation are destined to the creation and maintenance of clinics and hospitals on the model of Padre Pio’s “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, which is now owned by the Holy See. All the clinics, hospitals, and churches dedicated to Padre Pio are built upon authorization of the competent Archdioceses or Dioceses.
In addition, the Foundation also provides financial support to the “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” by donating at least 10% of the annual proceeds.
Besides the active contribution provided by members of the committees and the Religious Advisory Board, the Saint Pio Foundation can also accept donations from individuals, priests, other organizations, foundations, associations, and private companies. In this regards, we have launched several initiatives, such as “United for Saint Pio”, “A Priest for Saint Pio”, and “Singing for Saint Pio”, that can be funded by those who wish to commit for at least 5 years.
Sponsorship opportunities and the “Spiritual Sons and Daughters of Padre Pio” option are also available for those able to give a greater contribution.
For more information on how to support the Foundation visit www.saintpiofoundation.org
The Foundation is also collaborating to the making of a film about Padre Pio, to be produced and interpreted by American actor Joe Mantegna.
The Saint Pio Foundation supports many educational, cultural, and social activities aimed at promoting Saint Pio in the U.S.
When Joe Mantegna, whose family is from Apulia and venerates Saint Pio as well, shared with me his idea of making, producing, and interpreting a film on Padre Pio’s life, based on a 20-year old script, I was very excited and granted him the Foundation’s assistance. This includes providing biographical information and contacts, so that the movie can be actually filmed in Apulia, mainly in San Giovanni Rotondo and Pietralcina. The Foundation will also present a promotional video by Joe Mantegna on the occasion of public events and the Award ceremonies.
The movie is now in pre-production, while Joe Mantegna and co-producer Dan Ramm secure the necessary funds, and it will be released in English and Spanish for international distribution. Such a movie will certainly have a great success in the U.S. and worldwide, as many other religious movies and TV series, such as Noah, Sons of God, and The Bible, are extremely popular.
Is the Foundation in contact with prayer groups dedicated to Saint Pio?
We are in contact with many prayer groups dedicated to Padre Pio in the U.S., and we praise the amazing work that they have done over the last decades.
In particular, we are very close to the “National Center for Padre Pio” in Barto, Pennsylvania, which is the major center and museum dedicated to Padre Pio in the U.S., boosting even a small-scale replica of the Church in San Giovanni Rotondo, where Padre Pio used to celebrate Mass and received the stigmata.
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