I am told by a source in Philadelphia that the President will present the Pope with a stole that once belonged to St. John Neumann when he visits Rome on the 10th. Apparently, [Obama]administration officials contacted "The DiCocco Family's St. Jude Shop" in Pennsylvania for help in locating an "appropriate gift" for the Holy Father. The DiCocco's are no stranger to the Pope Benedict. They created the Papal Chair for Benedict's visit to the National Shrine last year. (They also worked on some of the furnishings at Mother Angelica's Shrine in Hanceville). My source tells me that St. Peter's Church at the St. John Neumann Shrine donated the stole--a second class relic-- for the special occasion. Now you know what to look for during the President's meeting with the Pope.-Raymond Arroyo
The DiCocco Family has a history of devotion to this special Saint of Philadelphia. In 2000 Mrs. Norma DiCocco, CEO of the St. Jude Shop, traveled to the Czech Republic on a pilgrimage to the saint's hometown only to discover that knowledge about their most holy countryman was scarce. In fact many of the youth of the area were not even aware that their hometown had provided the church with a saint! The area was poor and even after many years, locals were still not able to raise enough money for a statue of their saint for the local church. Mrs. DiCocco's heart was moved and she responded with the same generous spirit of ministry that inspired her, along with her late husband Louis, to found the St. Jude Shop nearly fifty years ago. She made plans at once for the St. Jude Liturgical Arts to begin work on a magnificent life-sized statue of the saint which was then donated to the town of Prachatice, birthplace of St. John Neumann. When asked to comment on the gift, Mrs. DiCocco stated, "I've had answers to prayers through his intercession myself and wanted to see his devotion spread." ...a gift of love from our family to the brethren of one of our most beloved Saints!
