“My wife was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in June of 1999. She has had two major operations, one radiation treatment and two bouts with chemo. After the last surgery and radiation treatment the doctors felt they had gotten it for sure, this time. However, to make sure they recommended a final and very severe regiment of chemo. She had just started the latest cycle of chemo when she got very sick. I took her to the emergency room.

The doctors said she had a blockage in her small intestine and would probably have to operate. This was devastating to my wife, family and me – by the way it all started on the evening of the 24th of April – the day Fr. McQueeney passed away. On Saturday the doctors were going to operate but said they would wait one more day to see if this problem would resolve itself.

That Saturday I went to Mass. Before Mass started I went to the vestibule of our Church, St. Andrew’s, in Reston, VA, where there is a life size statue of Padre Pio. I asked him to pray for my wife to get better. I repeated over and over to myself Padre Pio’s words, “Pray, Hope, and don’t Worry!” – needless to say I was doing a lot of worrying. As Mass started I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders until it came time for the Homily. Fr. Fasano, our parish priest, who celebrates the 5:30 PM Mass gave an unusually short Homily – let me say here that Fr. Fasano’s are some of the most spiritually moving I have heard in my life! The last words of his homily were – “…as Padre Pio says, Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry!” – Needles to say I got goose bumps and then a great calm came over me. That night my wife started to feel better – the pain went away and she started to eat again.

Her improvement was so great that they sent her home on Monday – she has no pain and is eating again. One more point I should mention – we will celebrate her birthday on the 16th of June – the same day Padre Pio will be canonized. I want everyone to know that Padre Pio can help you too.”