Date/Time
Date(s) - Sep 26, 2026
10:30 am - 12:30 pm

On this day, we joyfully honor Venerable Rafaelli of Sant’Elia a Pianisi with the Society of Sant’Elia a Pianisi.  Padre Raffaele was born Domenico Petrucelli on December 14, 1816.  Domenico entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1835 and was given the name Raffaele.  He was ordained a priest on March 29, 1840. Padre Raffaele devoted his life to priestly ministry as a confessor, counselor, and spiritual director.  He died on the evening of the Epiphany, January 6, 1901, and was buried in the hometown cemetery where people already venerated him as an extraordinary spiritual father.  The following words were penned by Padre Pio on April 5, 1956, about the “Holy Monk” Padre Raffaele. 

Saturday, September 26, 2026 
Bilingual Mass (English/Italian) – 10:30 AM 
Main Celebrant and Homilist: Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio 
Bishop Emeritus of Brooklyn and Spiritual Director of the Society of Saint’Elia a Pianisi  
Concelebrants:  
Father Giuseppe Triscuoglio, Parish Priest of Sant’Elia – Pianisi, Italy  
Father Mathew George, CMI, Resident Chaplain – National Centre for Padre Pio 
Rosary – 11:30 AM 
Talk on Padre Raffaele (English/Italian) – 1:30 PM