About
Carrying on the Mission and Works of St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Our MISSION is to carry out the works, words and devotion of St. Padre Pio through prayer and charitable works where we can touch lives and change souls.
Our VISION is to create more Spiritual Children and lead souls to heaven.
"Padre Pio organized Prayer Groups so that they would be a source of constant prayer embracing all those around the world who were needy in either body or soul. The need to gather at least once a month, to pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and to be a source of charity for all, were to be the essential characteristics of every Group."
(SOURCE: http://www.pppg.org/?p=743)
Guiding Our Faith
"I have been chosen to lead a most amazing group--The Padre Pio Prayer Group of Cleveland Ohio. It is a privilege and honor to be chosen to be the leader of this devoted Saint's journey. His works on earth, and his dedication to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Fatima are the epitome of his sainthood. I have met many wonderful people through this group and every day brings another story to share. 'God Occurrences', as Fr. Ed Janoch, our Spiritual Editor, calls them, happen all the time if we are attentive and listen and watch for the Lord's hand in our lives, just as Padre Pio did. I ask you to come share in this Spirit-filled adventure with our group on the First Saturday of each month. It is an experience you won't soon forget ... it may even change your life!"
-- Cindy Russo TOF, Group Leader
Cindy Russo TOF
Group Leader
Cindy is a member of St. Barnabas Church in Northfield OH. She is a widow with three married sons and a grandmother of six. She is a Cleveland native and attended twelve years of Catholic School. She was married to her High School sweetheart, the love of her life, Joe Russo, for 33 years. Joe was a Past Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus and spent most of his time helping others and the church. Cindy lost Joe in a tragic car accident in January 2011, but it was the beginning of a spiritual change for her that she never expected. Cindy's faith over the last few years was altered due to an experience with "a friar dressed in a brown cloak" at Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio a Trevi in Rome, Italy. It was the last vacation together with her husband. The 'incident' happened on September 23, 2010, when a friar answered a prayer request to intercede for the healing of a three year old relative who had terminal cancer. She had no idea until after the encounter that it was Padre Pio. The young boy was healed. It was the beginning of a Spirit-inspired journey that she has been so obviously called to uphold. Cindy has been the Leader of the Padre Pio Prayer Group of Cleveland since February 2013, and was appointed the U.S. Representative for the Disciples of Padre Pio in Rome, Italy in September 2016. Cindy owns a chalice used by Padre Pio in the 1960's. She shares the chalice and witnesses her amazing story of faith around the world.
Fr. William E. Browne
Spiritual Director
Fr. Bill is a retired priest in the Diocese of Cleveland, but serving as Parochial Vicar at Saint Augustine Church in Barberton OH.
Fr. Edward J. Janoch
Spiritual Editor of the Newsletter
Fr. Ed was ordained on May 20, 2000 and is currently in residence at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Garfield Heights OH.
Fr. Michael A. Petkosek
Chaplain
Fr. Michael is a Parochial Vicar at Saint Albert the Great in North Royalton OH since 2021.
Sr. Jeanne Marie Glorioso, H.M. (1938-2016)
The Padre Pio Prayer Group of Cleveland was established in 1969 (one year after Padre Pio's death) by Sr. Jeanne Marie Glorioso, H.M. at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Euclid OH. The prayer group has been hosted in various parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland since that time.
Rita A. Slivka (1938-2019)
The Padre Pio Prayer Group of Cleveland mourns the loss of our former Group Leader. Rita held this position from 2008 to 2013 when the gatherings were hosted at the Church of the Assumption in Broadview Heights OH.e faithful servant! Rest in Peace!" -- comment from a Prayer Group member
Disciples of Padre Pio
"Padre Pio's disciples are His spiritual children who want to give special witness to faith in their lives. They then become those who help the Holy One in His evangelization of the New Millennium. In time, they may also form a new ecclesiastical institution with chaplains who coordinate them and give them a more adequate training for responding to this important responsibility and mission in the Church of God."
-- Luigi Accept, Apostolic Nuncio (Rome, 16.05.2004)
(translated text)
Congratulations to Cindy Russo on being named the U.S. Representative for the Disciples of Padre Pio.
Meeting with Irene Gaeta in Italy (September 2016)
Meeting with Irene Gaeta in Italy (September 2016)
Irene Gaeta, leader of the Disciples of Padre Pio, on Italian TV on 01 November 2016