Saint Rita of Cascia Fall 2023

Saint Rita of Cascia

Fall 2023

Saint Rita draws people to herself because she radiates a simple and firm confidence that comes from her faith and trust in God. More than 60 years ago, when Pope Saint John XXIII called together the bishops of the world in Council, he prayed for a new Pentecost, a new experience of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. This is a prayer we need to continue to offer still, for while there are abundant signs of vitality and courage and conviction among those who bear the name Christian, there are constant reminders that fear, confusion and division are also part of our experience. And neither the positive nor the negative elements of this reality are unique to the present day.

Almost every age, including ours, can say of itself what a famous writer said of his day: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities).

Saint Rita is a woman who was touched clearly by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. There is no question that she lived in troubled times for the Church and for society, which meant trouble for her in a very personal and profound way. When we think of how her world was so filled with religious fervor and devotion on the one hand, and so lacking in fundamental values of justice and honesty, of respect and

good will on the other, we might wonder how it was possible for someone like Saint Rita to achieve the depths of holiness and honor, serenity, and kind-heartedness that she is known for. But her life teaches that even when the circumstances that surround us are not the best, it is still possible to grow, even to excel. It is still possible to live faithfully the Gospel because Jesus has promised that we would never have to rely on our own resources, good will and inner strength alone to meet the challenges of life, but that he would be with us always, with his Spirit to lead and guide and encourage us.

When we ask ourselves the question: what it is that continues to make Saint Rita so attractive and appealing to so many people, it has much to do with the way in which her life, her example, her decisions, and her great courage in the face of great challenges, reveal the Spirit of God working within her.

We don’t know a great deal about Saint Rita’s personality or natural temperament, whether she was shy or outgoing, gregarious or reserved, or whether her success as a peacemaker and reconciler was due to her appeasing and conciliatory disposition. We really can’t say, but we do know a good deal about her spirituality: In the midst of upheaval and turmoil in her personal life, peace and serenity are clearly evident; in the face of disappointment and sorrow, we see a woman of hope; in moments of uncertainty, we recognize an attitude that is unwavering!

W oman Spirit the of a

Saint Rita is one of those individuals about whom Jesus speaks in the Gospel when he says that anyone who believes in me, from that person rivers of living water will flow. And these are the waters of life and nourishment that bring refreshment to all those who surround them.

Though confronted with the complexities of life, she stands out as an uncomplicated person, single-minded in her pursuit of God’s will for herself and for others in her life. She is also recognizable as one of those who, attentive to Jesus’ invitation, took up the cross every day and followed him, and so has become an example, a teacher and mentor to so many others who are willing to do the same and search for a light to guide them.

In all of this, we can say very simply that Saint Rita was filled with the Spirit that came to renew the face of the earth. What is true of many saints, of every time and place, is especially true of Saint Rita, who shared the ordinary experiences of so many people, as daughter and wife and mother, as widow and religious, calling us to walk with her in following Jesus so as to become, in our day, people from whom living waters will flow to refresh this world of ours.

RELIC HIGHLIGHTS

St. Augustine

St. Monica

Twelve Apostles

St. Francis of Assisi

Pope St. John Paul II

St. Nicholas of Myra (Santa Claus)

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Nicholas of Tolentine

St. Thomas of Villanova

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Maria Goretti

Relics from around the world

H me find a new

Over the past several months, a unique collection of relics of saints has found a home in the Saints’ Grotto of the Lower Shrine. A total of 308 relics were gifted to the Shrine by the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, to be placed in a permanent display for the veneration of visitors.

with Saint Rita

The relics had been collected by the late Fr. Richard Cannuli, O.S.A., known both locally and nationally as an accomplished artist whose influence, design and sacred artwork grace churches throughout the United States and overseas as well. Prominent among the relics, all beautifully encased and individually labeled, are 43 of Augustinian saints and blesseds.

Visit

Saints’ Grotto: Lower Shrine

Saint Rita of Cascia

Fall 2023

Mission

Founded in 1907 by the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia is a Roman Catholic community of prayer and worship deeply rooted in Augustinian spirituality. Inspired by the life of Saint Rita of Cascia, an Augustinian saint known as a healer, reconciler, and peacemaker, the Shrine seeks to inspire people from all walks of life to live these virtues as they come to know and encounter God and others.

Thirty Years On, Beginning Again!

Contributors to this issue are:

Jonathan Jerome

Robert Guessetto, O.S.A.

Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A.

Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A. Design: accent communications, inc.

The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia was founded by the Augustinian Friars of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova in 1907, and continues to be served by them under Executive Director, Jonathan Jerome.

1166 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19146

215-546-8333

SaintRitaShrine.org

Thirty years ago, in 1993, Saint Rita Shrine launched the publication of a modest, four-page newsletter. Its objective was simple: to tell the story of the Saint of Cascia and to spread the refrain of peace and reconciliation which she lived so radically. We christened this newsletter The Peacemaker precisely to emphasize this vital dimension of her life and message. Over the years since, the format has undergone several changes, the pages have increased, full color was added, and the newsletter grew into a magazine. Consistent throughout, however, has been our principal goal of telling Saint Rita’s story, exploring her spirituality, and making her known to an ever-expanding audience of devotees.

In more recent years, with the growth of the Shrine’s ministries, the increase of pilgrims and the renovation and extension of our facilities – thanks, in large part, to you, our benefactors – we have used the magazine also to report news of the Shrine and its activities, and to share testimonies of our patrons’ experiences of the accompaniment and intercession of Saint Rita in their lives.

This thirtieth anniversary of the magazine’s founding seems an appropriate time for our next aggiornamento! As you can readily see, our format has undergone another transformation, and even our title has changed. We hope, however, that you will find the contents essentially the same as we have always tried to make them, relaying a message of our patroness that is informative, interesting, and inspiring.

© copyright 2023-2024

Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A.

115-year-old stained glass windows were refurbished in the Upper Shrine this year

Augustinians in the City

Saint Rita grew up in the small village of Roccaporena, Italy, set in a valley between beautiful Umbrian hills. However, her world also embraced the larger town of Cascia, which is on a travel route between Rome and Florence. As small as her circle of life might have seemed, influences of the wider medieval Italian world impacted her life and prayer.

Similarly, while the National Shrine of Saint Rita is nestled on Broad Street in one of Philadelphia’s old neighborhoods, its life and that of the wider civil and Catholic community of Philadelphia impact one another considerably. In fact, the Shrine is proud to be a part of the extensive presence of Augustinian ministries in the city, marked by worship, the proclamation of the Gospel and a diversity of services spanning 227 years of history!

The Augustinian connection with Philadelphia began in 1796, when Father Matthew Carr, O.S.A., arrived in the city from Ireland to serve early German and Irish Catholic immigrants. In short order, he established the Parish of Saint Augustine on 4th and Lawrence Streets, which stands as an historically and artistically rich sacred space. He also established Saint Augustine Academy on Vine Street in 1811, one of the earliest Catholic efforts in secondary education.

These many years later, four friars continue to minister from this original foundation. Its pastor guides parish and liturgical life with a diversity of ministries, including hospitality to young adults and to the extended area’s devoted Filipino Catholic community. Three other friars are engaged variously in pastoral counseling, social justice outreach and pastoral ministry in surrounding parishes.

Adeodatus Ministry: weekly faith sharing and support to all impacted by incarceration or addiction

Fr. Matthew Carr, O.S.A.

Saint Augustine Spire: first formation of the Augustinians in Old City Philadelphia

Three miles south is the Augustinian Church of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine at 9th and Watkins Streets. It was established in 1912 to serve Italian immigrants of South Philadelphia, continuing the legacy of the former parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which was established in 1898 in the heart of the Italian Market on Christian Street. When the population growth in the area around Good Counsel changed in the 1930s, that parish was closed, and its mission of Saint Nicholas was itself made a parish. Saint Nicholas is known for its strong parochial life with a rich cultural tradition as well as a robust parochial elementary school. In 2016, Saint Nicholas Parish was partnered with Annunciation Parish at 10th and Dickinson Streets under a single Augustinian pastor who is assisted by two other friars, one of whom is principally responsible for the growing Hispanic population at Annunciation.

In 1907, the Church of Saint Rita of Cascia at Broad Street, the neighboring church to Annunciation, was founded for the benefit of Italian and Irish families. It served as a parish church with a strong commitment to Catholic education, as well as a center of devotion to its patron saint. Due to significant changes in the neighborhood, in 2016, Saint Rita yielded its mission as a parish community but continued, and expanded its role as the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, embracing prayer, devotion, worship and evangelization. Three friars provide sacramental ministry to the Shrine as well as service to pilgrims in programs described in the accompanying articles in this issue of the magazine, all under the leadership of a lay Shrine Director.

In July 2022, the Augustinians assumed responsibility for the pastoral care of Saint Paul’s Parish on Christian Street,

which includes also the nearby Church of Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, the country’s first Italian National Parish. Two friars serve this community, one as pastor, the other offering supplemental ministry while engaged in fulltime ministry at Villanova University.

Finally, the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova sponsors an outreach to immigrant and needy families of South Philadelphia through an initiative known as Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (A.D.R.O.P.) founded in 2004 by a friar of the province, and now headed by a lay Executive Director.

In all, 13 friars and their lay collaborators are engaged in a variety of ministries in the City of Philadelphia, continuing to build upon the legacy that the Augustinians first established long ago in the infancy of a new nation.

A.D.R.O.P Unity Clinic: free medical care to the immigrant population in South Philadelphia

Saint Augustine

Saint Paul & Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

Saint Rita of Cascia

Saint Nicholas of Tolentine & Annunciation B.V.M.

Miracles Granted from Africa to South Philadelphia with

Saint Rita’s HELP

For centuries, people from throughout the world have known what Dr. Ijeoma Obiyo has come to know about the Saint of the Impossible: Saint Rita of Cascia’s intercession with our Lord is most powerful!

Born in Nigeria in 1970, a mere ten months after the end of the Nigerian Civil War, Dr. Ijeoma Obiyo grew up as a woman of deep and abiding faith. This faith not only informed how she lived her life, what she studied, and whom she married, but it also inspired the way she raised her six children. The proud mother of four daughters and two sons, Dr. Obiyo has had to make tough choices in order to protect and support her kids, but she has always done it with love and trust in God’s abiding presence.

This was especially true in 2018, when she learned that one of her sons had a large growth on his throat, preventing him from breathing properly. Even though he needed surgery, doctors were uneasy about operating because the threat of losing too much blood outweighed the benefits of an operation. Like any concerned mother, Dr. Obiyo jumped into action! She visited different hospitals and scheduled countless appointments. Second opinions quickly became third and fourth and fifth opinions, but each new doctor seemed to confirm the diagnosis of the last. The situation, and her son’s condition, felt impossibly hopeless, and the trauma of watching her beloved son die gradually was unbearable.

Dr. Obiyo in Nigeria with her children

One day at Mass, as Dr. Obiyo knelt before the Blessed Sacrament, she made her earnest plea: “Dear Lord, make it possible for this tumor to shrink so that the doctors might safely perform surgery on my son!” She thought maybe some medicine or even radiation might provide the answer they were looking for. But, as if being consoled and counseled by an old and reliable friend, Dr. Obiyo learned what she must do while in prayer: Go to Saint Rita and ask for her intercession.

Without delay, Dr. Obiyo went home and researched Saint Rita, learning about the saint’s life and the national shrine dedicated to her in the United States. As quickly as she could, Dr. Obiyo packed, got her passport, and bought a plane ticket. And upon arriving in South Philadelphia,

Dr. Obiyo knelt before the relic of Saint Rita in the Lower Shrine and prayed for the saint’s help. She asked for the impossible so that her son might be healed. She offered her most sincere prayer to a saint who knew what it meant to be a mother who loved her sons. And, as soon as she finished her prayer, Dr. Obiyo asked the Augustinian Friars to pray for her son, too. She needed a miracle, and she wasn’t afraid to ask for it!

Within a week of her return, Dr. Obiyo had her son drink Saint Rita holy oil, and wear a Saint Rita medal, and join her in praying for his healing. The result? A miracle, for sure. The tumor was gone. Dr. Obiyo took her

son to five different doctors, each examining him thoroughly, and each concluding that the disappearance of the growth in his throat was a medical anomaly; it was scientifically unexplainable. But Dr. Obiyo knew what many of us have come to know: Saint Rita interceded for her son. For the past five years, Dr. Obiyo has returned to the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia during the Solemn Novena to give thanks to God for the gift of her son’s miraculous healing. And, each year, Saint Rita continues to make her intercession with our Lord known. The impossible moments, situations, and struggles that burden so many of the Shrine’s pilgrims seem to become a little more bearable with Saint Rita’s help. Dr. Obiyo and her family certainly believe so.

...give thanks to God for the gift of her son’s miraculous healing.

Saint Rita atheist an experiences the power of

One of my favorite ministries at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia is the opportunity to welcome pilgrims who visit us.

Some visit with a parish group, and others as families; still others simply decide to “stop in” as they walk past us on busy South Broad Street. I consistently experience great fulfillment each time I observe the renewed sense of hope these pilgrims carry with them as they leave. I see the difference the Shrine is making.

Shortly after I was assigned to Saint Rita’s in 2021, I had an encounter with a man who decided to “stop in” as he walked past our doors. It was a sunny May afternoon, and I was busy cleaning up following a wedding. The man entered the church, approached me and said, “I want you to know I’m an atheist, but I love the artwork in this place. Can you take a few minutes to tell me about the art?” I used the story of Saint Rita to explain the stainedglass windows and murals of the upper Shrine. I spoke about how we believe the saints lived lives not unlike our own. Since they are now with God, we ask them to pray for us.

I then spoke about the various ways Saint Rita understands us: She lived in a time of violence, so she understands our fears and

frustrations over the rising violence in our city; she faced a variety of disappointments in life and therefore understands what we experience when things don’t go our way; she lost her husband and children and therefore understands grief. I shared how she faced rejection from her in-laws when she stood up for what she believed and therefore understands our own suffering when we stand up for what we believe. I also spoke about how she lived through a plague and understands what we have been through with COVID. Toward the end of the conversation he asked, “Wow, was she real?”

God had used this man’s love of art as a doorway to enter a much deeper discussion about life. He and I may not have shared the same belief in God, but we shared the same concern and need for hope about the world around us. Thus, a unique encounter was born. I don’t know if he ended up believing in God because of our discussion, but I’m pretty sure a seed was planted that day and the Shrine fulfilled its mission.

Fr. Jeremy Hiers, O.s.A.

What is the mission of a Shrine?

In 2017, Pope Francis issued a document in which he lays out a specific vision for shrine ministry:

“Shrines are called to play a role in the new evangelization of society today,” he wrote. The pope observes how, despite the crisis of faith we see in the world, shrines are still perceived as sacred spaces to which people – not unlike the man cited in the accompanying story – go to find a moment of contemplation in today’s often hectic life. The pope further emphasizes that shrines are places where the faithful therefore “receive support” for the “ordinary path of faith” they find in the parish and Christian community. In other words, a shrine is to be a place of encounter that complements rather than replaces parish ministry. And, as the story demonstrates, the shrine’s central location within the city and its open doors provide opportunities for evangelization through encounters that cannot necessarily be found elsewhere, opportunities that make a difference in our world through the witness and intercession of Saint Rita.

With the completion of the Cascia Center in 2022, the Saint Rita Shrine has even more space to make a difference. With rising violence just outside our doors, and increased polarization in our society, the relevance of Saint Rita’s life to our lives today cannot be overemphasized. As Rita often did throughout her life, the Cascia Center offers opportunities to bring people together in a variety of ways:

We gather people who were formerly incarcerated, families of the incarcerated, victims of crime, those suffering from addiction and others who care about those issues to reflect on the Gospel, together, every week.

We welcome students from local schools to reflect on how change starts with us, and how we are all invited to follow Saint Rita’s example to become peacemakers in our schools, homes, and neighborhoods.

We host quarterly retreats for families suffering from various challenges such as grief, addiction, and/or conflict.

We host an annual workshop for parents concerned about their children who, like Saint Rita’s children, have fallen away from Christ and His teachings.

We host service projects to give high school students residing in the suburbs the opportunity to come into the

city and make a difference in the lives of the people they otherwise would only hear about on the news.

We serve on the front lines of the mental health crisis by offering low-cost counseling/ spiritual direction to people who suffer from mental illness.

We offer Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a daily basis, as well as monthly Healing Masses and weekly Novenas to Saint Rita and Our Mother of Good Counsel. We make available, through our Gift Shop, material for spiritual reading and devotional objects.

Top: Pope Francis Coat of Arms and Saint Rita sculpture, Lower Shrine

Saint Rita and the Holy Souls

Devotion to the Holy Souls, as observed in a special way during the month of November, is a distinguishing characteristic of the Catholic faithful. Particularly significant, as well as humanly consoling, is the belief that our cherished loved ones who have completed their journey among us on earth, continue to be united with us in what we call the communion of saints. Not thoughts and memories alone, but prayers and good intentions, as well, keep us connected with those dear to us through bonds that not even death can sever. As we approach the month of November once again, we invite you to find inspiration in this devotion from the example of Saint Rita.

Rita was no stranger to the experience of separation and sadness caused by the death of the persons closest to her, beginning with her parents who bore her, their only and beloved child, and raised her in the faith that guided, instructed and consoled her throughout life. The story of the tragic death of her husband and the untimely death of her two sons is well-known to all who are familiar with our saint.

Their death and Rita’s response are at the center of the message of forgiveness leading to reconciliation for which she is universally celebrated. We can only imagine that Rita’s prayers were often lifted up on

Augustinian Cemetery at Villanova University

behalf of these five individuals with whom she had shared the early years of her life. All of them had passed away by the time Rita was 32 years old.

Particularly important in Rita’s prayer for her departed family members is her great personal devotion from childhood to Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, the special patron of the faithful departed. She had been formed in devotion to him through her many visits to the Augustinian church in Cascia where the friars spoke often of this holy confrere of theirs who had died only decades earlier and whose reputation for holiness would see him proclaimed a saint in Rita’s own lifetime. She learned from Nicholas how to keep her loved ones close to her and, above all, to have confidence that her own prayers on their behalf could truly benefit them greatly.

At the very start of the month of November, the Church dedicates two days to the remembrance of those who have gone before us. The Solemn Feast of All Saints on the first of the month calls to our prayerful attention all those countless men, women and children who have completed their journey on earth and now enjoy the presence of God. These are the saints, whether canonized or not, who have won the race and have received the reward promised to

those who are faithful. November 2 holds in cherished memory, as well, the many others who have passed ahead of us, but who are still in need of our assistance. We pray for them just as we pray for the sick among us, the burdened, and those who are needy in any way. Our communion with the departed is no less real and powerful than our communion with those who still journey at our side. A long and revered tradition has extended the focus and devotion of All Souls Day throughout the entire month of November.

Our Augustinian Friars will offer a special Novena of Masses for your deceased relatives and friends beginning Thursday, November 2, 2023, and extending through Friday, November 10, 2023. To enroll your loved ones in this Novena, please visit SaintRitaShrine.org or use the enclosed envelope.

Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Stained Glass, Upper Shrine

...in Rita’s prayer for her departed family members is her great personal devotion from childhood to Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, the special patron of the faithful departed.

Saint Rita gift of the

Itis no surprise to those of you who are familiar with Saint Rita, to be reminded that her life and her message have much to say to many people today. Several of the stories in this current magazine attest to this. The very existence and popularity of this Shrine as a pilgrim destination demonstrates this! When visitors are asked what draws them here, it is not unusual to hear them speak of many different benefits to the human spirit: the peace and tranquility of a prayerful space, the hospitality and forgiveness of a confessor’s words, the comfort and encouragement of Sacramental Presence, and the witness and example of an admirable woman of profound Christian faith. Miracles happen here! They are the often-overlooked miracles of personal, human and spiritual renewal, miracles of inspiration and resolution, of pardon and of peace. Come and receive, and the gift you will be given, give also as gift.

Images from the 2023 Feast of St. Rita by Fr. Dan McLaughlin, O.S.A.

1166 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19146

pilgrimage plan your today

SaintRitaShrine.org 215-546-8333

The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia welcomes individuals, families and groups that are on pilgrimage to the Philadelphia area. If you are interested in a tour, or in bringing a group to the Shrine, please call the Shrine Office at 215-546-8333 to arrange a pilgrimage. We are happy to customize visits according to your needs and interests.