About Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina · San Antonio, Texas
The Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina is a Roman Catholic parish and shrine located in north San Antonio, Texas, within the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Established in 2001 and dedicated to St. Padre Pio, the Italian Capuchin stigmatist canonized in 2002, the parish is a bilingual (English/Spanish) community offering daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in its own chapel, and a growing cluster of ministries. It uniquely houses relics of St. Padre Pio — including his glove and rose petals from his garden — making it a regional pilgrimage destination within the Archdiocese.
- Established
- 2001
- Patron
- St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
The Shrine of St. Padre Pio is one of the few parishes in Texas entrusted with authentic relics of St. Padre Pio, including his glove, drawing pilgrims from across South and Central Texas. It is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish with a robust slate of ministries — including Life Teen/EDGE youth ministry, OCIA (RCIA), Knights of Columbus Council 13704, ACTS retreats, American Heritage Girls, Boy Scouts, bereavement, marriage, prayer blanket, rosary-making, Bible study, and a Catholic Education Program (CEP) school of religion — plus a 24-hour Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel available to registered adorers. For a family seeking daily Mass, a perpetual adoration chapel with first-class Padre Pio relics, a vibrant youth movement, and a bilingual community on San Antonio's North Side, the Shrine offers a distinctive spiritual home.
Mass times at Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual (24/7) Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration Chapel — accessible 24 hours a day with an access card issued by the Parish Office
History of the Shrine
The Shrine of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was founded on August 15, 2001 — the Solemnity of the Assumption — to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population in northeast San Antonio along the Bulverde Parkway corridor. From the beginning it was planned as a devotional shrine as well as a parish, entrusted with relics of Padre Pio (who would not be canonized until 2002). The parish has been pastored since its founding by Rev. Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale, who articulated the parish's pillars as Prayer, Presence, and Purpose. A long-term vision — the 'Future Shrine of Padre Pio' — calls for a permanent replica of Padre Pio's shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; the current facility is described on the parish's own materials as a temporary worship center pending that build-out.
- Founded August 15, 2001
- Pastored from inception by Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale
- Permanent 'Future Shrine of Padre Pio' project in planning
Our Patron: St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione, 1887–1968), an Italian Capuchin friar, spent most of his life at the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo. He bore the stigmata for roughly 50 years, was a celebrated confessor, and reportedly manifested numerous mystical gifts. The parish's relic collection — most notably a glove worn by Padre Pio and rose petals from his garden in San Giovanni Rotondo — is on public veneration in the shrine's Adoration Chapel, making this one of only a small number of U.S. sites entrusted with such relics.
- Feast day: September 23
- Canonized 2002 by Pope St. John Paul II
- Relics in the Adoration Chapel: his glove, rose petals, and other relics
Parish Team
The Shrine is led pastorally by Rev. Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale. A small but unified lay staff serves the parish's day-to-day operations, faith formation, youth ministry, music, and parish-office functions.
- Rev. Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale — Pastor
- Judy Ortiz — Director of Religious Education, Ext. 100, [email protected]
- Rony Galdamez — Director of Youth Ministry, Ext. 101, [email protected]
- Michelle Sepulveda — Business Administrator, Ext. 105, [email protected]
- Silvia Jimenez — Parish Office Administrator Assistant, Ext. 104, [email protected]
- Vincent Carr — Music Director, [email protected]
Parish Ministries
The Shrine is sustained by an unusually broad ministry ecosystem, with dozens of parish-based volunteer groups serving liturgical, spiritual, social, and outreach needs. Adult ministry listings on the parish website range from liturgical roles (Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Usher, Altar Server, Sacristan) to fellowship, family, and outreach — including Bereavement, Marriage Ministry, Prayer Blankets, Rosary Making, Visitation to the Hospital/Homebound, and Meals on Wheels.
- ACTS retreats
- American Heritage Girls
- Bible Study
- Boy Scouts / Cub Scouts
- Catholic Education Program (CEP)
- Fellowship & Sunday Greeters
- Marriage Ministry
- Meals on Wheels
- Natural Family Planning
- Rosary Making
- Teams of Our Lady (TOOLS)
- Vacation Bible School
- Visitation to the Hospital / Homebound
Knights of Columbus Council 13704
The Shrine hosts Knights of Columbus Council 13704, the parish's chartered Catholic fraternal service council. Recent leadership, as listed on the parish website, includes Grand Knight Sir Knight Humberto L. Quintanilla II, CAPT, USN (Ret.), reflecting a strong tradition of veteran and active-duty Catholic men of the parish serving in the order.
- Council 13704
- Grand Knight: SK Humberto L. Quintanilla II, CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Youth ministry at the Shrine is anchored by Life Teen for high school students and EDGE for middle school students, combined under the Pio Youth Movement. Beginning in summer 2026, the parish is launching DEVO — a Wednesday-evening summer devotion program positioned as an extension of the Pio Youth Movement, framed around 'living and breathing' the faith in everyday moments. Youth Ministry is directed by Rony Galdamez.
- Life Teen (high school)
- EDGE (middle school)
- Pio Youth Movement
- DEVO summer program (begins June 24, 2026 — Wednesday evenings)
- Vacation Bible School
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation for parish children is organized through the Catholic Education Program (CEP), the parish school of religion. Adult formation runs through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA), which the parish offers publicly on its website with sessions scheduled to begin June 21, 2026, from 8:30–10:00 AM and welcoming inquirers from other Christian backgrounds. Marriage preparation is supported through the Marriage Ministry.
- CEP — Catholic Education Program (parish school of religion)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (sessions begin June 21, 2026)
- Marriage Ministry
- Natural Family Planning
Music Ministry
Liturgical music at the Shrine is led by Music Director Vincent Carr, supporting the bilingual weekend Mass schedule (Saturday vigil, two English Sunday Masses, and a Spanish Mass).
- Music Director: Vincent Carr
Visiting the Shrine and Relics
The Shrine welcomes visitors and pilgrims to pray in the worship center and to venerate the relics of St. Padre Pio — his glove, rose petals, and other relics — housed in the 24-hour Adoration Chapel. The Pastor's Letter specifically invites pilgrims and visitors: 'If you wish to visit, you are most welcome to pray in our worship center or visit our 24-hour Adoration Chapel.' Registered adorers receive a personal access card from the Parish Office for 24/7 adoration.
- Worship center open for prayer and visit
- Relics of St. Padre Pio in the Adoration Chapel
- Key-card access to the chapel after registration at the Parish Office
Safe Environment & Volunteer Compliance
In alignment with the Archdiocese of San Antonio's Code of Conduct, all adult volunteers at the Shrine must complete and stay current with Virtus Safe Environment training: Sexual Harassment Training, Protecting God's Children (for those who minister to children/youth), and Vulnerable Adults Training — each renewable on a three-year cycle. The Archdiocese's Office of Victim Assistance and Safe Environment (OVASE) administers compliance.
- Sexual Harassment Training (3-year renewal)
- Protecting God's Children (3-year renewal)
- Vulnerable Adults Training (3-year renewal)
- Administrated via Virtus; oversight by OVASE (210-734-7786, [email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Patrick J. Ragsdale2001–present
Founding pastor of the Shrine of St. Padre Pio, named a Monsignor and continuing to lead the parish.
