The Healing Journey

October 9, 2025

‘Her health declined, but her faith deepened’

By Dana Keyser

Ever since attending the Padre Pio Mass back in November, I’ve felt a deep calling to learn more about him and often ask for his intercession. I initially attended the Mass on behalf of my mother, Denise, who has MS and is a longtime devotee of Padre Pio.

Every single morning, she prays Padre Pio’s healing prayer as she seeks healing for an open wound. Over the past several years, while her health has declined, her faith has deepened. She truly lives by his famous words: “Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry.” To be quite honest, I often wondered how she could be so faithful with all of the challenges she has faced. Nonetheless, my family and I attended the Mass with her and my dad in mind. We bought a pair of rosary beads, along with a handkerchief my father gave me years ago, and we touched them to the relics. We tucked the rosary beads under my mother’s pillow and returned the handkerchief to my bed, where it has always stayed. We prayed for St. Pio’s intercession not only for my parents but for all of our loved ones in need of healing in mind, body, or spirit.

Each month that I attend the Padre Pio prayer group, I seem to add a new person to my list of intentions. When I pray for them, my hope is simple: Whatever circumstance they find themselves in, that faith and peace will surely follow, as it has for my family, especially my mother. After all, it is only with faith that the “don’t worry” part of Padre Pio’s words truly makes sense. What began as something I did for my mom’s health has grown into my own devotion.

(Dana Keyser is a coordinator of the Padre Pio Prayer Group of Fairfield County, which meets the first Saturday of every month at St. Jude Church in Monroe, with the Rosary at 8:30 a.m., followed by Mass and then a social hour with a presentation about St. Pio. All are invited.)

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