Testimonials
Many graces and even miracles have been revieced by those who have asked for St. Gianna's intercession through prayer, visits to the shrine, and our monthly Veneration Services. We invite you to read some of them below.
February 17, 2023
My name is Bill W. and today you met my daughter Lauren and my granddaughters Gianna and Madelyn as they visited the Shrine of St. Gianna. Lauren told us that you offered them the opportunity to see the Church and Gianna declined the offer because she had "french fries" on her mind. Let me give you a bit of a backstory and how we discovered the Shrine of St. Gianna. Lauren and her husband, Johnny, were married for 11 years and it seemed they could not have children. Along the way they had several pregnancies that failed. My wife's cousin, Carol, told us of the Shrine of St. Gianna in Yorkville. My wife and myself visited the Shrine and said a rosary for Lauren and Johnny. Several years ago Carol, her husband Al, Lauren, Johnny, my wife Michele and myself visited the Shrine together and said a rosary again. In May of 2020 Lauren and Johnny had their daughter and named her after St. Gianna. Madelyn was born 5 months ago. Lauren told us that you blessed all of them today with a relic of St. Gianna's, her wedding dress. Father Matt, that gesture on your part means so much to us and it bought a few of us to tears. Thanks for taking the time to visit with Lauren, Gianna and Madelyn. I know that chance encounter today will not be forgotten.
Bill W.
September 30, 2019
I prayed to St. Gianna to be granted Asylum in the U.S. and today, September 30, 2019, I received notice that it was granted. Thank you so much for your intercession, St. Gianna.
Jackie K.
June 22, 2019
At the age of 42, I had a miscarriage and lost a baby. It was very sad loss to our family. Nine months later, I found out that God had blessed us again and I was pregnant with our fourth child. I was worried and scared. I had heard about the story of St. Gianna and prayed for her intercession during this pregnancy. Although I did have diabetes, I had a successful pregnancy and birth by Ceasearan section. My daughter, Gianna, is named after St. Gianna in gratitude for her intercession. Gianna is a happy 4 year old today.
Ray S.
October 27, 2018
I have been going to St. Patrick’s church in Yorkville since I’ve heard about St. Gianna and her relic. Every time I go there, I feel the healing energy surrounding me. One time, I had a cough/upper respiratory infection that lingers, I had to wear mask in front of my patients. My co workers suggested things to drink, etc. after I went to St. Gianna’s relic veneration, it went away just like that. I knew when I was driving home, even when I was at the mass that I was healed. This week, I have been so stressed at work my upper back was tightening up. I had a headache that I know was coming from my upper back muscle tension, I venerated St. Gianna’s relic and overnight, it went away. Ms. Cathy and Ms. Lisa were kind enough to re arrange their schedule so I could venerate St. Gianna’s relic because I won’t be able to attend the last Sat relic veneration.
-Joy V.
June 14, 2017
On 27th January this year, I suffered an ectopic pregnancy. I was so devastated. On 1st February, I did a Google search, looking for the Catholic saint who intercedes for those looking for children. I discovered Saint Gianna on that day and I started praying to God through her intercession to bless me with a normal pregnancy. I had one child already, a son, and prayed to God to bless me with a daughter.
I soon discovered that there is a Saint Gianna shrine in Chicago and asked my sister in law who lives in Chicago to go there and pray for me. She attended the healing mass on 25th February and venerated the relics and we continued to pray together to Saint Gianna. I said the novena at the start of every month and she also sent me the petition package that was sent to me from the main shrine in Pennsylvania.
One month later, on 31st March, I found out that I was pregnant! I was so excited and I later found out that it was a normal pregnancy and on 1st June, i did an ultrasound scan which showed that I am expecting a baby girl.
I would like to thank Saint Gianna for her intercession and continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. I will name my daughter Gianna and I am telling so many people about this beautiful saint.
-Angella
March 24, 2017
I did not know about St. Gianna until my second pregnancy. I had a miscarriage prior and I have a sister who lost her baby shortly after giving birth. When we found out we were expecting the second time, my husband and I went on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI. There we saw St. Gianna, patron of expectant mothers. At that moment we knew what to name our child before we even know the gender of the baby. We share our fears with Fr. Matt, and each time after mass he would say a special blessing for me and my baby. Our little Gianna was born on May 28, 2010, and at 2 years old she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. My daughter is moderately severe, she is non verbal, and would need an adult her entire life. From that pilgrimage to this day, I have been praying for St Gianna's intercession. I had the privilege to attend the dinner with Gianna Emmanuela and know more about St. Gianna and fell more in love with her. What a blessing to stand next to her daughter and tell her we have been praying to your mother for almost 7 years now without fail and to ask St. Gianna's daughter to pray for our intention as well. I have been to the healing mass on more than one occasion and we will continue to come for as long as its offered. I know our miracle is not something grand, but one thing I can share is that we are experiencing millions of little miracles each day.
-Rowena P.
January 25, 2017
The story of St. Gianna’s intercession in the lives of my family began long before I ever knew who St. Gianna was.
About 1 year before my granddaughter was born, my son suffered a seizure while standing at the foot of St. Mary’s altar at a wedding we had attended. He was suffering from alcoholism at the time. He was rushed to Mayo Clinic – St. Mary’s Campus, entered rehab and recovered.
In 2008, my son and his girlfriend learned that she was pregnant. She had been using illegal street drugs and the OB/Gyn told her that she needed to have an abortion and that because of her drug use, her child would be born with physical abnormalities and mental retardation. My son stood firm and said they would not have an abortion. They were going to have the child and would accept it, and whatever challenges came with it. 9 months later, a perfect baby girl was born. They named her Gianna.
Fast forward about 8 years later. I had recently been attending Masses at St. Patrick Parish and became involved in the Adoration group. I saw the Shrine to St. Gianna, learned about her from Fr. Matt and brought my prayers for my family to St. Gianna for her intercession. In 2016, my son lost his job and began drinking heavily from April through September. His liver was failing; he looked green and had lost much weight. After his daughter’s 9th birthday in September, his father and I convinced him to see a doctor. He was admitted to the hospital for 3 days and sent home with instructions to return in January. He probably would not have lived to see the appointment if we had waited for it.
One week later, he was back in the hospital and was told he was suffering from peritonitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. Doctors drew out 2 liters of fluid from his abdomen and said his liver was not functioning.
I received a referral from Dr. Emanuel, a friend and colleague from my nursing days at Loyola. She recommended a liver specialist and miraculously, we got an appointment 3 days later. On October 19th, 2016, doctors drew out 6 liters of fluid from his abdomen. Two weeks later, doctors drew out another 6 liters.
I told my son that this was the Year of Mercy and he should come to the healing service at St. Patrick Parish and touch the relics of St. Gianna. The Saint's daughter, Gianna Emanuela, was at the service that night. Later that week, I convinced my son to go to confession after Wednesday morning mass. Fr. Matt heard his confession, gave him absolution and then brought him the relic of St. Gianna. My son touched and kissed the relic, a green scarf that had been worn by St. Gianna when she was alive.
When we returned to the doctor the next week, there was no fluid to be removed from my son’s abdomen. My son’s strength is returning and he is able to eat again. All signs of infection are gone and his liver enzymes are at normal levels. He went from near death and waiting to be put on the liver transplant list, to being completely recovered within a week of going to confession and touching the relic of St. Gianna.
-Kathy G.
January 20, 2017
Testimonial: I first witnessed St. Gianna's intercession when I placed a prayer card that had been touched to her gloves on my daughter's father's back. "What are you putting on my back, it is really hot," his back pain ceased. My daughter was a baby then and St. Gianna became a presence in our lives as a prayer card next to my bed and a saint we prayed to every now and then. Nicolette chose her name for her upcoming Confirmation. While planning our summer vacation out to the mid-west states we found the shrine in Yorkville and decided to stop by on our way back to New Jersey. In April 2016, my daughter was diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis and had to have spinal fusion surgery in September. About an hour before we arrived in Yorkville on July 14, I had this sudden feeling that we had to get there by 5:00, driving quicker, we made it just as they were closing up. Lisa, Fr. Matt and Deacon Doug all went out of their way to make sure we could venerate what St. Gianna truly wanted her to hold. The words just tumbled out of Lisa's mouth: 'She needs the shawl.’ Lisa did not know about the scoliosis, but the white shawl is what came to Nicolette. On July 16, we met Gianna Emanuela at the Warminster shrine and on the 17th Nicolette gave her a note asking her to pray to her mom for her surgery. We continued to visit that shrine every month since. But, everything around me was crumbling: I was alone, terrified of losing my daughter to the surgery, trying to choose the right procedure and surgeon, unemployed, and we had to find a new home. Something made me go back to CHOP and find a new surgeon and as soon as I met him I knew he was the one. Then Nicolette's surgery date was changed. She took my face in her hands and said to me, ‘We have to go to Italy, God has a plan for us, have faith and believe.’ On top of everything else going on I have great fears of flying during presidential election times, but, I suddenly knew it was ALL going to be okay. We were able to expedite passports and join Fr. Matt and Lisa on the pilgrimage. We were so blessed to be in the places where St. Gianna lived, worked and prayed. Nicolette's spine had curved from 58 to 85 degrees in just 6 months but her surgery was a huge success. They were able to straighten her spine to less than 10 degrees, she had no real back pain and did not have to take more than a few doses of morphine while in the hospital. Nicolette is back in school and just started to return to her rhythmic gymnastics. On December 26 Nicolette had her 6 week follow up. Since I am not allowed to enter Pennsylvania anymore without stopping in Warminster, we returned to St. Gianna's shrine again. It was off hours but one of the shrine volunteers that we never met before met us there to open the case for Nicolette so she could hold St. Gianna's gloves. Then she put a box in front of us and took out St. Gianna's shawl. The white one that was in Yorkville 5 months ago.
-Cindy Durso
January 10, 2017
Recently, I was hospitalized due to severe abdominal pain. I prayed to St. Gianna with her relic and asked my husband to pray for me with the relic also. The condition was identified as an infection and medication was administered to cure it, but the real grace from the healing was for my marriage. I believe St. Gianna's intercession brought about a change in my marriage making it more rich and happy that it had been for many years. Praise God!
Jan. 10, 2017
I attended the healing Mass August 27 and venerated the relic of St. Gianna. It was very appropriate that it was a head scarf that she had worn because I was having brain surgery two days later. The procedure was to remove an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which bled causing me to have a stroke. Very scary times indeed. As a mater of fact, Father Matt also anointed me that night too. I am sure St. Gianna, being the Patron Saint of Doctors, helped guide the hands of the Neurosurgeon. The surgery was so successful that I am happy to say that four months later, I have no issues, no therapy, no drugs and no restrictions. It's like it never happened! Christmas and Thanksgiving with my family this year was even more special than normal! There is much more to this story. Our Lord has a way of letting you know that he is answering your prayers. I need to also thank St. Michael the Archangel, St. Martin de Porres and our Miraculous Mother Mary. I will pray this thanks every day the rest of my life!
-Mike Pfieffer
Jan. 6, 2017
I wanted to share an experience from last month's healing service. My husband and I attended the mass and he intended to leave after mass. He has a cyst on his vertebrate that causes much pain at times. When it acts up the pain can be unbearable for weeks. As mass began I really felt that he needed to stay for the healing service. He did and venerated the relics as they were brought around. That night he felt the pain starting to ease up and the next day his pain was almost gone. I believe it was the intercession of St. Gianna easing his pain. I give thanks and praise to God that we have this powerful intercessor in our parish.
__________
I was at the mass and healing service. It was indeed a beautiful experience to touch the blessed relics but it was breathtaking to shake hands with and hug St. Gianna's daughter. I carry her prayer card in my purse at all times and say the prayer daily. I have visited the shrine on my walking excursions, but after 'touching' Gianna Emanuela in person the shrine means so much more to me. Thank you Father Matt for inviting this wonderful person to our parish.