Holy relics visit three Salt Lake-area parishes

Friday, May. 20, 2016

OGDEN — Parishioners from Ogden and the surrounding areas offered prayers, meditated and were accompanied by music as they venerated the Relics of the Passion at St. James the Just Parish on May 15 during a presentation by the Apostolate for Holy Relics, which is touring the United States.

The presentation of the Relics of the Passion was to “create an encounter; an engaged participation in the Passion of Christ so that Catholics could recognize their own role; the love of God giving us his son and also to recognize the suffering of his son,” said Denise Serafini, CFO for Apostolate for Holy Relics. “We, as Catholic people, don’t necessarily feel like we are inside of the Passion; we see ourselves as outside observers.”

When Pope Francis declared the Year of Mercy, presentations by the non-profit Apostolate for Holy Relics became more widespread throughout the United States, said Serafini, who since 2008 has presented the relics primarily in New England. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportun-ity to see and venerate these relics here in one place instead of going to Rome, Jerusalem and Paris,” said Father Erik Richtsteig, St. James the Just pastor. “The relics remind us of our historical faith with tangible material evidence. Each time we celebrate Mass, we are tapping in to that historical reality.”

During the ceremony, Fr. Richtsteig and the Northern Utah Knights of Columbus 4th degree honor guard presented the nine relics as people processed, kissing and touching religious medals and rosary beads to the relics.

Presented were a relic of the True Cross, a piece of stone from the table or room where the Last Supper was held, a piece of the Column of Flagellation, a piece of the Crown of Thorns, the effigy of the Veil of Veronica (touched to the original veil), a replica of the holy nail which contains filings taken from the true nails that were imbedded in copies to make relics of a lower class, a piece of bone from St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus, and a thread from the cloth used as the wrapping for the Burial Shroud, and the Epilogue representing the apostles.

 “Words can’t explain how special this was for me and the people to be able to spend time with these relics,” said Dan Castelli, Knights of Columbus District Marshall of Northern Utah.

“Seeing this is huge for our faith,” said Cooper Remkes, a St. James parishioner. “It gives us a chance to see evidence of things that happened a long time ago; times when maybe we are filled with doubt or others may doubt what we believe. It’s nice to know that these things are real; this was a very rare opportunity.” 

Alfonso Tenreiro, a St. Florence parishioner, wasn’t sure what to expect when he arrived, he said. “I had to pray about these things we were seeing, but after I saw them, they increased my faith,” he said.

“They were spiritual and brought the Passion of our Lord to life,” said Lisa Tenreiro.

“To contemplate the depth of what these relics really mean and to realize these relics really touched Jesus; now for us to touch them in a profoundly different way, in a deep spiritual way, is remarkable,” said Rob Wardle.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna  hosted the Relics of the Passion during the following days. 

“This is a great blessing for the parish and the community,” said Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Lady of Lourdes Parish. “Venerating the relics reminds us of our faith and the commitment we have to the Lord, and at the same time it’s a motivation for us to keep doing our best as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps every day.”