Confraternities and archconfraternities
Padre Pio Prayer Groups
Gruppi di Preghiera di Padre Pio · Padre Pio Prayer Groups International · PPPG
St Pio of Pietrelcina began them
Coordinated by the International Centre of the Padre Pio Prayer Groups at San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, under the Opera di Padre Pio. Each group has a priest Spiritual Assistant approved by the local diocesan bishop. US liaison through pppg.org.
A few minutes' work
Through a local group. Free. The International Centre states there are no registration fees.
How to find or start oneTo join, find a group near you and attend its meetings, with nothing to sign and nothing to pay; to start one, the real first step is finding a priest willing to be Spiritual Assistant and then approaching your bishop.
Members have a portal to sign in to.
Padre Pio called these groups nurseries of faith and hearths of love. They are simply local groups that meet regularly to pray, usually with Mass, the Rosary and some time before the Blessed Sacrament, under a priest appointed as their Spiritual Assistant. The appealing part is how low the barrier is to take part: you do not apply, pay anything or make a promise, you just turn up to the meetings. The formality is all on the other side, because setting up a new group needs the bishop's approval and registration with the International Centre in Italy.
Where it comes from
Begun by St Pio of Pietrelcina. The International Convention of Prayer Groups was held at San Giovanni Rotondo on 20 September 1968, the month Padre Pio died.
What you promise
For an individual member: attend the group's scheduled meetings. The International Centre's wording is 'Anybody can join a Group by attending the scheduled meetings. There are no registration fees.' For a group: it must have a priest Spiritual Assistant, the diocesan bishop's approval for both the Spiritual Assistant and the group, a Group Leader, a Vice-Leader and a Secretary, and it must notify the International Centre of any change of place, spiritual assistant, leader or direction using the Group Data Update Form.
What the Church attaches
The prayer and fellowship of the group, under the patronage of St Pio. No indulgences are published by the International Centre, so none should be claimed.
Enrollment checked 2026-10-22. Details change without notice and parish practice varies. Confirm before relying on this sheet.