The relics of the much-loved St. Thérèse of Lisieux are to visit England and Wales for the first time in the Autumn, and will be in our diocese at St Andrew's in Newcastle from 3.30pm on Wednesday 30th September until 10.30am on Thursday 1st October.
Bishop Seamus Cunningham will celebrate Mass at St Andrew's at 7.30pm on the evening of Wednesday 30th September and an all night vigil will then follow. All are welcome.
Over the last 15 years the casket containing the earthly remains of St. Thérèse of Lisieux has visited 40 countries in all five continents, and is a frequent presence at significant events in Rome and elsewhere.
St. Thérèse was born in Alençon, Normandy in 1873 and at an early age entered the Carmelite convent of Lisieux. She became assistant novice-mistress in 1893 and took special responsibility for the junior sisters. She died of tuberculosis on 30 September 1897. Canonisation (the declaration that she is a saint) followed in 1925; she is most famed for the spirituality that she lived by, which is called the ‘Little Way’. St. Thérèse is ‘Patroness of the Missions’ of the Catholic Church and a “Doctor of the Church”.
Immediately after her burial, miracles of healing began to take place at St. Thérèse’s tomb, fulfilling her prophecy that she would “let fall a shower of roses on the earth” after her death. In her notebooks she wrote: “I would like to be a missionary, not just for a few years, but till the end of time.” Wherever her relics have gone, millions of people have prayed beside them and experienced many graces of healing, conversion and vocation.
Preceding the visit will be a nationwide programme of catechesis (teaching) among Catholics on the life and spirituality of the Saint, focussing especially on prayer, the call to holiness, family life, vocation and evangelisation. More details will be available later.
St Andrew's Catholic church in Newcastle, where a casket containing the
relics will be on show
St Therese died in 1897