Welcome to Journey with Padre Pio
"You love me, because I will always lead you to Jesus, through Mary." Padre Pio
So Let us begin our Journey with Padre Pio.
Julia Calandra-Lineberg, Acclaimed Expert on the Life and Spirituality of Padre Pio
A Bicentennial Year graduate of Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Julia Calandra-Lineberg
enhanced her formal education by studying several years with the Handmaids of Merciful Love, the Congregation founded by Blessed Mother Speranza di Gesu, at their Motherhouse in Collevalenza, Italy and in Rome.
She was instructed in the authentic teachings of the Catholic Faith while becoming proficient in both the Hospitality Industry and the Italian Language.
As the eldest daughter of the Calandra Family, Julia had the unique experience of witnessing firsthand the many incredible accomplishments of her parents, the late Vera M. and Harry E. Calandra, founders of the National Centre for Padre Pio, Inc., which shaped the direction that the Centre would follow to become a world-class Museum and Spirituality Centre, the destination of people who travel from all over the world, to learn the life and spirituality of the saint of the new millennium, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
Julia was blessed with but one son, Santino Pio Ciccarone, before her husband John E. Ciccarone was called home to God in 1996.
Years later, Our Lord brought to their lives Stanley Lineberg; they wed in 2000, and the family happily resides in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.
For nearly thirty years Julia enjoyed the privilege to serve as Vice President of the National Centre for Padre Pio, Inc., first under her mother Vera and later under her father, Harry.
Since the death of her mother, Julia has been credited with being one of the most knowledgeable individuals on the life and spirituality of Saint Pio and over the years has been invited to speak in Colleges, Churches, Schools and at Catholic Conferences throughout the United States and Canada.
Julia has also appeared on television programs both local and international including EWTN and RAI Italian TV, and, as a guest, on nationwide radio programs sponsored by Relevant Radio, sharing with the faithful the authentic message of just who is this incredible gift from God, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
As she continues to accept speaking engagements, it is Julia’s greatest pleasure to share personal witness and experience with an international audience through podcasts and webinars.
Having been blessed with the great privilege of meeting, knowing and even living with not only the Friars who knew, lived with and cared for Padre Pio, but also Beatified and Canonized Saints in the Catholic Church each of whom has left an indelible mark of great love of our Faith and great love of humanity, Julia knows that it is her duty to serve and to share this love and knowledge with other souls desiring to enter into a deeper relationship with Almighty God along with those souls who are searching for comfort, consolation and encouragement through fervent prayer in desperate situations.
By overwhelming request, Julia will once again organize retreat-like Pilgrimages to some of the Holiest Shrines and sites in the world, many of which our beloved Padre Pio visited during his lifetime, in person or in bilocation.
Having learned at her mother’s right hand, the pilgrimage trips that Julia is famous for organizing are second to none.
Hope you will join us for a truly unforgettable spiritual experience.
Our promise to you
Who we are?
It is not a slick and fancy website filled with “virtual tours and shopping carts”; instead I hope and pray that you will find that it is a way to learn more about Faith and Hope and Charity, which is Love, through the spirituality of Padre Pio.
We entitled it “Journey” with Padre Pio, why?
Because so many people with whom I have been in contact have shared with me their incredible life-changing events: the death of a loved one whether expected and unexpected; terminal illness, either theirs or that of a loved one; the devastation of discovering infidelity in a marriage, leading to irreconcilable separation or divorce; loved ones, children and adults addicted to drugs, pornography, alcohol or gambling; entire families leaving the faith and grandparents and parents suffering the very real pain of that loss; even the shock of being blindsided whether by accident or design through evil intent of betrayal by friends or family.
The calls, visits and emails have been overwhelming and heartrending; but there was a common thread which connected all of us.
The realization and acceptance of the truth that these events have changed our lives irreversibly and have set us on a new path; a journey of self-discovery.
I strongly believe that any journey of self-discovery must lead to a greater end; the goal for which we have been created: Heaven, through a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.
I also believe strongly that this goal can be achieved by sharing our journey with Padre Pio.
Padre Pio was a man of hope; a gift from God in our lifetime to help us to arrive to our Heavenly Goal. Padre Pio was the embodiment of all of the treasures of the Catholic Faith and since his death on the 23 rd of September in 1968, he has been continuing to fulfill his promise in which he said to those who entrusted their souls to his guidance and protection: “I will do more for you from Heaven than I could ever do on earth.”
LECTURE SERIES
It had been an idea which began deep in my heart; and has been growing for some years.
A desire to share the “real Padre Pio” with everyone who would care to hear me and to learn, before I go to my final reward.
A desire to share the privileges which had been granted me throughout my life, to learn about Padre Pio through those who knew him; to hear the first-hand accounts from the mouths of those who actually were with him while he was granted otherworldly extraordinary experiences which were ordinary in the life of Padre Pio.
To speak of these experiences, through which humbly and of times reluctantly, Padre Pio would reveal to the witness present, the great gifts bestowed upon him by God in order to fulfil his mission, the mission: To save souls from Hell and to win them back and lead them to God.
I will begin the series of lecures, the Journey with Padre Pio from his birth to present day, in the month of May.
The month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and Our Mother. I want to offer them as a gift to Padre Pio, who was born of May 25th 1887, and in honor of my own beloved mother, the late Vera M. Calandra.
I had the privilege of having two wonderful parents, who filled our lives with love and happiness, as well as the lives of all who would come to know them.
My mother, however, was given a great mandate from God, to bring the gift of Padre Pio into the lives of all whom she would meet; this she would come to do, by the grace of God and with a generous heart filled with the love of God for all of the souls whom she would touch in her lifetime.
I dedicate this series to my mother; I will do my best, as I always have, to imitate her relentless spirit, her enthusiasm when speaking of her favorite subject, Padre Pio and to strive to make my parents proud.
The lecture series will be by subscription and details about how to subscribe will be available soon.
It is my hope that you will want to collect each broadcast and make from them a video library, filled with the true stories of Padre Pio, the Holy Angels and Saints and so much more, to use for your own edification and for future generations.
JOURNEY WITH PADRE PIO 2019 PILGRIMAGE TO ITALYHAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 2020
Special thanks to all who signed up and will join us in 2020.
Brochures and full details including itinerary will be available soon.
This group is invited to participate in a private screening in San giovanni Rotondo of the latest film by famed producer and director, Jean-Marie Benjamin, "We'll Rise at Dawn", followed by a reception and "meet and greet" with film members.
NEW DATES WILL BE FORTHCOMING
YOUR DEPOSIT WILL SECURE YOUR SPACE
Limited number of seats available, reservations accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Everyone interested is encouraged to send a deposit as soon as possible to hold your place, because space is very limited.
During the Pilgrimage we will not only visit the Shrines that Padre Pio visited in person and in bi-location, but get to know some of the people who knew Padre Pio personally and learn of the great work being done to serve humanity, at the official project founded and dedicated by Padre Pio himself, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza.
Mass will be offered daily, and Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction wherever possible.
Journey with Padre Pio Pilgrimage, personally escorted by Julia Calandra-Lineberg, will be filled with true Capuchin Franciscan joy as well as the character of the Italy of Padre Pio; this pilgrimage retreat will prove to be an unforgettable spiritual experience: the Journey of a lifetime!
