Join Us Today!
Today begins the Novena through the intercession of St. Padre Pio, which will end on his feast day, September 23, 2024. We invite you to join us for these nine days of prayer and thanksgiving to our Lord for Chesterton Academy of St. Padre Pio.
The work has been intense over the past two years, but God has continually shown us that He is close and working all things out for our good. Finding the location was the greatest challenge and the greatest miracle as He literally “dropped” a school on us, which we named The Gift.
It still seems surreal that we are a month into classes with a dedicated headmistress and faculty meeting the needs of students eager to learn. The feedback from students is that they are in a peaceful place, where they are not stressed out nor dealing with drama. Although they may not make the connection yet, these are the fruits of attending daily Mass and making prayer the center of school life.
We are grateful to Bishop Frank Dewane for his fatherly care in giving us permission to have Mass on campus and to all the priests that have made it possible.
In addition to joining us in the St. Padre Pio novena, we invite you to join us at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs parish for their September 28 celebration of this beloved saint. The parish is home to the St. Padre Pio Shrine and will be having a special 4pm Mass, where several of our students will be singing, followed by a parish reception. More information can be found here.
As we take a pause as a school community to thank God for His infinite goodness, we also ask Him for the graces we need to continue this important work of preparing our students to triumph over the culture’s materialism and despair with joy and purpose.
Padre Pio Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O St. Pio, I come to you today knowing that you are truly a miracle worker. As one who is close to Jesus, I ask that you would pray for these my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
I pray with the words of Pope John Paul II as I beg for your prayers on my behalf:
“Glorious, humble and beloved Padre Pio. Teach us, we pray, humility of heart, so that we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom. Help us to pray without ceasing, certain that God knows what we need even before we ask Him.
“Obtain for us the eyes of faith that will help us recognize in the poor and suffering, the very face of Jesus.
“Sustain us in the hour of trouble and trial and, if we fall, let us experience the joy of the sacrament of forgiveness. Grant us your tender devotion to Mary, mother of Jesus and our Mother.
“Accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage toward the blessed Homeland, where we too, hope to arrive to contemplate forever the Glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Amen
In closing, St. Pio, we pray the prayer you composed for Confidence and Trust in God’s Mercy:
“O Lord, we ask for a boundless confidence and trust in Your divine mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of Your Church.
Help us to love You with a pure and contrite heart, and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross, as we climb the mountain of holiness, carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory.
May we receive You with great faith and love in Holy Communion, and allow You to act in us as You desire for your greater glory.
O Jesus, most adorable Heart and eternal fountain of Divine Love, may our prayer find favor before the Divine Majesty of Your heavenly Father.”
Amen.
All glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
St. Padre Pio, Pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Join here in praying the rest of the Novena to St. Padre Pio.