Relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus parents to visit parishes in Archdiocese of Manila

The Relics of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus will be visiting parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila starting this weekend. (Photo by Judgefloro (Own work) [Public domain])

According to an article posted on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) website, the theme of the visit, “Sharing the joy of love in the Filipino family,” will be from February 5-7, 2017.

On Sunday, the relics will be transferred from the Coast Guard Headquarters in Pier 15 Gate 1, to the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) in Intramuros, Manila at 9:30 am.

Fr. Genaro Diwa will preside the Opening Liturgy to be followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

At 4p.m., the relics will be brought to the National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels Parish in San Miguel, Manila.

The following day, the relics will be at the Lay Formation Center (Layforce) in EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City at 7a.m.

It will be transferred to Santo Niño de Paz Chapel, Greenbelt Park, Ayala Center, Makati City at 2 pm.

On February 7, after the closing liturgy at 7:15 a.m., the relics will be at the Diocese of Cubao from February 7-9, 2017.

The relics will also be on display at Radio Veritas in Quezon City on February 10, 2017.

Last January 2, the relics arrived in Manila and were welcomed with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Shrine of St. Therese in Newport Boulevard barangay Villamor, Pasay City.

It started the two-month (January to February) pilgrimage to over 32 archdioceses and diocese including military camps in the country.

The relics are housed in a special reliquary donated by the people of Ireland for the Martin couple’s beatification last October 2008.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines President Archbishop Socrates Villegas, designated Rev. Fr. Leopoldo Tumulak, head of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines to be the coordinating body for the relics’ pilgrimage all over the country.

For his part, the Catholic priest urged Filipinos to be open and receptive in welcoming the relics of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin whose marriage and family life brought us the “greatest saint of modern times.”