Photo gallery below following the story – Photographs by Richard Lim
On September 23rd, 2020 Bishop Earl Boyea and several priests and deacons from the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan celebrated a Holy Mass on the new Casa USA campus in honor of the Feast of our Patron, St. Padre Pio. Prior to the Mass, there was a solemn procession through the future Stations of the Cross Trail and a blessing of the specially commissioned original Fourth Station…Jesus meets His Mother…painted by renowned artist & friend of Catholic Healthcare International, Mr. Joseph Chovan of Cincinnati. This is the first of fourteen specially commissioned stations to be created by Mr. Chovan, each of which will incorporate Padre Pio sharing in the passion of Jesus on His journey along the way to Calvary.
After the blessing of the Fourth Station, the procession including around 100 of the local Catholic faithful, proceeded into the beautiful outdoor grotto area…an expansive natural open area surrounded by large trees creating an inspiring outdoor Church ambiance…for the blessing of the Santa Maria delle Grazie mural grotto wall featuring a 6′ x 6′ inset replica of the mosaic mural that adorns the altar of the Church in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy where Padre Pio said Mass daily during his lifetime. This beautiful shrine to Our Lady of Grace was built by local artisan Hernan Palacio who donated his services “For the glory of God” as he said. Thank you Hernan!
A solemn Holy St. Pio Feast Day Mass was then celebrated by Bishop Boyea, the priests and deacons on the beautiful new quartzite altar in front of the grotto wall inscribed with the famous saying by our patron Padre Pio…”Pray, hope & don’t worry!”
The Mass was followed by a program Emcee’d by WJR Detroit radio personality Mr. Jack Krasula, during which the leadership team of Catholic Healthcare International and the Casa USA presented the vision for the Casa USA in Michigan and kicked-off the $5 Million campaign to build the St. Pio Eucharistic Adoration Chapel on the campus. Three additional open house hour-long sessions in the evening allowed hundreds more visitors to stop by, see the beautiful campus, and hear about our Casa USA vision. It was a grand success!!
