LA TUA OFFERTA SU VOCE DI PADRE PIO
Voce di Padre Pio - Email info@vocedipadrepio.com
Telefono +39 0882.418311
Indietro

San Marco la Catola

History: The Capuchin friary of San Marco La Catola was founded in 1585 during the provincialate of Fr. Francesco of Termoli, with the economical assistance of different benefactors. The building was enlarged with further rooms and a large space for the wool mill funded by the Marquis Pignatelli. The wool mill served very well its purpose  until 1841, when it was moved to Foggia. The friary was charged with a  pre-existing small church entitled “Holy Mary of Giosafat.” It was the centre for the noviciate at different times and frequently the friars’ student house.

The church was consecrated on 12 July 1713. In view of the Murattian suppression, on 16 August 1808 an inventory of the friary was carried out by a Lieutenant  Domenico Perna and by the Mayor Felice Di Mattia. A copy of this inventory was  consigned to the Superior, Fr. Felice of Gildone. The friary was not suppressed thanks to the energetic intervention of the mayor who defended the generous work of the friars who “provide the Mass and the Sacraments…  the people being most satisfied with them and  if  deprived of their exemplary assistance it would be a great loss… the  friary being  their only relief and that they willingly assist with their donations so as  to provide for, at present, up to 17 persons.”  Another reason for the mayor’s request not to suppress them was that this friary had the only wool mill in the Sant’Angelo province to make the material for the Capuchin friars’ habits.

It was closed down in 1867 becoming part of a Religious  Treasury – a  Fund set up during the years of suppression. On 10 June 1867, the Fund handed over the whole property  to the San Marco town  council. The friary was reopened in 1901 thanks to the work of the provincial Fr.  Pio of Benevento. In 1922, the Fund handed over the property to the Diocesan Ordinary. On 1 June 1966, Mgr. Cunial, the Bishop of Lucera gave the friary back to the Monastic Province. For the Ministry of  Interior, however,  this was not  legally valid because  the bishop was not the owner of the friary,  only the tenant.