Welcoming Our New Parishioners: Relics of the Saints

I’d like to introduce you to some very special new parishioners who have taken up permanent residence here at St. Paul’s—and they are eager to be your friends and companions on the journey of faith.

In the glass cabinet facing the baptismal font, you’ll now find First Class Relics of:

• St. Agnes

• St. Catherine Labouré

• St. Catherine of Siena

• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

• St. John Vianney

• St. Martin de Porres

• Pope St. Pius X

• St. Teresa of Calcutta

• Blessed Martyrs of Damiel

• Blessed Eugene Bossilkov

• St. Michael the Archangel

• Relic from the BVM Milk Grotto

• St. Paul of the Cross

• St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother

• St. Vincent Strambi

Coming soon: St. Barbara, St. Junípero Serra, and Blessed Miguel Pro.

On feast days and other special occasions, these relics will be placed before the altar for veneration, healing, and intercession.

The Relic of the True Cross

This year, for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, our parish was blessed to venerate a relic of the True Cross. This sacred relic will be permanently mounted within our crucifix and taken down each year on Good Friday and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross for special veneration.

Why Relics Matter

Sacred relics are tangible connections to the saints and, ultimately, to Our Lord Himself. The Church recognizes three classes of relics:

• First Class: The physical remains of a saint (such as bone, flesh, or hair).

• Second Class: Items personally owned or used by a saint (clothing, books, etc.).

• Third Class: Objects touched to a first or second class relic, or to the saint.

From Scripture, we see that God has chosen to work through such material objects:

• A man was restored to life when his body touched the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20–21).

• A woman was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Matthew 9:20–22).

• The sick were healed when Peter’s shadow passed over them (Acts 5:12–15).

• Handkerchiefs touched to Paul brought healing and deliverance (Acts 19:11–12).

Relics are not magic. They do not hold power of their own. Any grace or healing that comes through a relic is entirely God’s work. But by choosing to act through them, God draws our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors”(CCC 828), reminding us of the communion we share with them.

May these holy men and women—and the True Cross of Christ—strengthen our parish family, deepen our faith, and draw us closer to the heart of Jesus.

Adapted from Treasures of the Church