Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux
A time of grace for England and Wales
At the request of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and the bishops of England and Wales, the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux will be visiting our country from 16 September to 16 October 2009.
Many people have been praying and asking for this to happen, and now their prayers have been answered. We can be sure that this will be a time of grace for our Church and our country.
To date the relics have visited nearly 40 countries around the world, including Brazil, Russia, Kazakhstan, the United States, Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Lebanon and Iraq. Wherever they have gone, many people have experienced conversion, healing, a renewed sense of vocation, and answers to their prayers.
To find out who St. Thérèse was and why she is of such importance, click here.
Getting around the Relics of St. Thérèse site
Use the links below to navigate:
The relics are contained in a large, sealed casket, which will be taken round over 20 churches in England and Wales. They will remain in each place for between one and three days. To find out where the relics will be going in England and Wales, and on what dates, click here.
In each venue the casket will be placed on display in a prominent place. There will be a Mass and other services each day, but most of the time will be left free for people to come and venerate the relics and pray for whatever is in their hearts.
Stewards will direct you in an orderly way to come and venerate the relics. How you do that is entirely up to you. Some people like to kiss the casket, or place their hands reverently upon it, while others may prefer just to pray quietly for a few moments.
There will also be plenty of priests available to hear your Confession or give spiritual advice.
For information on what a relic actually is and why Catholics venerate them, click here.
“As ‘Patroness of the Missions’ St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminds us that it is up to all of us to go and teach the Gospel as Our Lord commanded us to. Her life and writings emphasise that whatever our state in life, even if we’re unable to make big gestures, we can be bearers of God’s love and mercy if we surrender all that we are to Jesus Christ. I encourage the baptised to use this evangelistic opportunity to proclaim in their daily lives the reality of God’s love and mercy. If you are not a Catholic, come and see. A warm welcome awaits you.”
Bishop Malcolm McMahon (Nottingham)
Chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis
Patron of the Visit of the Relics
“St. Thérèse is a much-loved saint all over the world, but nowhere more than in Britain. There will be widespread joy among Catholics that her relics are to visit our country, along with an expectation of many graces to be received. But this visit is for all Christians; and indeed people of any faith or none will be most welcome to come in pilgrimage to pray at Thérèse’s side. I pray that this Visit will help many people to find their way to God, and help our society to find the way to true peace through justice and compassion for all.”
Bishop Arthur Roche (Leeds)
Patron of the Visit of the Relics
Click for further endorsements of the visit of the Relics of St. Thérèse
I’m not a Catholic: can I take part?
Certainly. All are welcome: members of other Christian churches, people of other faiths or no particular faith, anyone who is in any way looking for answers to the questions of life. Sick and disabled people will be especially welcome, and in some venues there will be special events for the young.
There are many ways you can be involved in this important event.
On this website you can read more about St. Thérèse and her mission, especially by going to this page.
The visit is centred, not on St. Thérèse or her relics, but on Jesus, whom St. Thérèse loved and served with all her heart. You can find out more about Jesus, and the Catholic faith, by clicking here.
You can pray for the visit. Pray that God will be pleased to send us many graces through it, and that all the practical arrangements will work smoothly. Ask God to show you what you should pray for, both for yourself and for others, when you come to venerate the relics.
Invite someone else you know to come with you to pray by the Relics, especially those in any kind of need, Catholic or not. Ask your parish priest if a coach or minibus can be organised from your parish to the nearest venue.
If you would like to help plan the visit to your local venue, you can e-mail the organiser of the visit, Mgr. Keith Barltrop, who will put you in touch with the local organiser.
The visit is being financed totally by donations, so if you would like to donate, please send a cheque payable to “Catholic Trust for England and Wales”, marked “Relics Visit” on the back, to Mgr Keith Barltrop, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX, or e-mail him for more details: Keith.Barltrop@caseresources.org.uk
Links:
Itinerary of the Relics' Visit
Interested in learning more about Catholicism? Visit our life4seekers website.