Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (9: 7-9) in which Herod questions who Jesus is.  After the Gospel, Fr Paul shares a little about the life of St Padre Pio, whose life we remember and celebrate today.

Padre Pio was born in the small village of Pietrelcina in Southern Italy in 1887 and at the age of 16 he joined the Capuchin Friars. Seven years later he became a priest and then he spent 50 years at the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo where he was very much sought after as a confessor and a spiritual advisor.  Many miracles were attributed to him.  Padre Pio died a few days after the 50th anniversary of his receiving the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ. Over 100,000 attended his funeral.

So today as we celebrate his life, Fr Paul says, we pray St Padre Pio, pray for us’.