FINALLY, THE ENTHRONEMENT FOR THE IMAGE OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS HAS OCCURRED ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES ON JULY 15, 2025!
- padredomenicovolto
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
For a long time, a gentle stirring for an Enthronement of the image of our Risen Lord began to take shape in my heart for the East Coast of the United States. A woman by the name of Daisy Neves, was the first person to have an Enthronement ceremony on the West Coast of the United States as well as in the Philippines. Although I never met Daisy, she called me one night back in March of 2019 only a few weeks before her death. She was filled with so much love for our Lord in this image and had asked for copies of the biography book on the life of Padre Domenico da Cese, Capuchin that I had been working on. Unfortunately, Daisy had passed before the books were printed. During our talk that night, I felt as though she had passed on an enormous torch to me to carry on her work. Over the years, as I learned more about Padre Domenico da Cese, Capuchin, the first person to compare the Shroud of Turin as the death shroud of Jesus to the Resurrected Face of our Lord in the Volto Santo before his death on September 17, 1978 the more I needed to study every detail. I also learned that St. Padre Pio also regarded this image as the greatest relic the church has. For now I will end that part of the story and move on to the current events.
In the spring of 2024, my thoughts became stronger after many prayers regarding an Enthronement Ceremony, so I turned to Padre Cucinelli for advice and guidance since he had performed the previous Enthronements. For the record, our texts oddly enough were on May 25th, the anniversary of the birth of St. Padre Pio who I feel has been behind my involvement from the very beginning. So I decided to contact the Calandra Family at The National Centre For Padre Pio, in Barto, Pennsylvania.
I had met the Calandra family in 1995 for the first time, and after much prayer, I choose the Centre for the first Enthronement of the Volto Santo on the East Coast due to the many pilgrims who visit the Centre each year. The next step was to ask Padre Antonio Gentili, the current Rector at the Basilica of the Volto Santo. After telling Padre Gentili everything, he quickly agreed to not only the blessing of a replica, to write the documents required, but to also come to the United States and perform the Enthronement Ceremony along with Bishop Alfred A. Schlert, the Bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Vera Calandra the Vice-President for The National Centre of Padre Pio and the Executive Director Nick Gibboni and I met in January 2025 to go over the necessary details. It goes without saying, there were a lot of late hours, texting, emails, etc. to see this come to fruition. So on Thursday, July 10th, Bishop Schlert, Nick, and myself met up in Manoppello for the Blessing Mass scheduled for Friday, July 11th. It was especially an honor for me when Padre Gentili asked me to do a reading during the Holy Mass, and to meet many devotees on that visit. Following the Mass, we ascended the staircase carrying the replica as Bishop Schlert then touched the image to the reliquary containing the true Volto Santo.
It was an amazing moment, at that same time, I could not help but think of Padre Domenico and Padre Pio seated together in the choir directly behind us for one last time together on September 22, 1968, looking up at the Face of our Risen Lord. Below is the actual view from where they both were seated that day.
On the pillow is the blessed image along with the documentation letters destined for the National Centre for Padre Pio.
On Monday, July 14th, the reliquary was not quite ready, but thanks be to God, it was finalized prior to the Holy Mass with much anticipation.
On Tuesday, July 15th, the day finally arrived with much excitement. I drove Padre Gentili to the Centre at 9:00 a.m., the last minute details had not been complete. The Centre staff had scheduled a talk by Padre Gentili in the Museum Tree Room for 10:00 a.m.; however, the crowds were more than what had been expected, so the event was moved last minute to the Padre Pio Spirituality Centre. Many pilgrims were unsure as to what they were seeing, so I spoke to the devotees which were filling up the Centre to clarify several points before the Holy Mass and Enthronement.
Joseph Santoro helped with the Italian translation.
Instead of the 400 pilgrims which were expected, over 700 people were present! The event was also live streamed. A special thank you to Angelo Rytz for all the work he has done behind the scenes in Manoppello in honor of the Volto Santo.
I could not leave out Padre Domenico da Cese from this most special event; even St. Padre Pio would refer pilgrims from the Abruzzo region of Italy, "Save your money, go see Padre Domenico, he is just like me!"
After the Holy Mass, Padre Gentili placed the blessed image of the Volto Santo in its permanent location. Shortly after, the pilgrims went in veneration of this Holy Image of our Lord. First and foremost thank you to our Lord for allowing this most special event, for those who visit the Centre as Padre Cucinelli wrote, "May this sacred image now open many hearts and bless those who turn to it in life's difficulties, and be a comfort to those who must face difficult problems.".
For anyone wishing to have a presentation on the Volto Santo and Padre Domenico da Cese please write to me on this website. The image of the Volto Santo that I am holding has been blessed in Manoppello and will accompany me.
May our Lord bless all of you abundantly.
Tamara Klapatch
Founder/Director: Padre Domenico Da Cese - Volto Santo
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