Therese2002.com - The Relics in Ireland

The visit of the Relics to Ireland 2001

A FINAL WORD

The last few days of the 'Pilgrimage of Grace' has seen the relics of St. Therese visit Waterford city and St. Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Derg. Waterford was the last and 26th diocese in Ireland to receive the relics and the people of the city and county responded enthusiastically to the occasion. Lough Derg was special in so many ways - a meeting of two great traditions, St. Patrick and St. Therese, a wedding of Celtic spirituality and the spirituality of a new millennium. History was made in the fact that it was the first time the relics of St. Therese had travelled by helicopter. It was also the first time a helicopter ever landed on the island - not to mention that it was also my first trip by helicopter! For those present on Lough Derg during the historic visit it will forever remain a never-to-be- forgotten experience. For myself, it was one of the highlights of my own journey with St. Therese.
After Lough Derg, the Theresemobile made its way slowly back to Wexford calling, among other places, at the Visitation Convent, Stamullen and the Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea. On Friday there was an all-night vigil on Nun's Island, and on Saturday another all-night vigil was held in Clonard church, Wexford.

On Sunday 1st July there was a Thanksgiving Celebration in Wexford Park, attended by the Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev. Guiseppe Lazaretto and hosted by Bishop Brendan Comiskey and the diocese of Ferns. In glorious sunshine the 10,000 people present enjoyed a feast of music, song, mime and dance.

'St. Therese's visit has been subversive' Bishop Brendan announced 'for all who peddle a false God, a God not of the Gospels, with its simple yet powerful message of love, mercy and forgiveness.' Children brought 5,000 balloons into the stadium and these were released, carrying a message of peace to the country and to the world, as the massed voices rang out in the clear summer air 'Let there be peace'.

The atmosphere was electric as the Reliquary was carried to the waiting helicopter and lifted off into the sky, to cheers and waves as the crowd sang: 'Now is the hour when we must say good-bye'. It was like saying good-bye to one of the family and, for all the joy and wonderful memories of St.Therese's visit to Ireland, there were tears and an understandable sadness as the helicopter flew out of sight on the start of the return journey to Lisieux.

It is hard to believe that our 'Pilgrimage of Grace ' is over. Twelve weeks on the road, 12,000 miles of travel, seventy-four official venues and as many more unofficial ones: roadside stops, detours and diversions. It is estimated that 3 millions people - 75% of the population - came to venerate the relics. It is obvious that something far greater than the bones of a dead saint were involved. St. Therese has struck a chord in the hearts of the Irish people and the example of her life and her 'Little Way' of confidence and trust has enkindled a spark of love, hidden in many hearts, waiting to be set free. 'A single spark of love', she once remarked 'can set the whole world on fire'. May that fire of love, rekindled by this 'Pilgrimage of Grace', continue to burn brightly in our hearts.

My sincere thanks to all who helped with the presentation of this Website over the past few months and to all who contacted us and sent words of appreciation and support. St. Thérèse has brought us together, as we journeyed with her around Ireland, and has left us with many precious memories of her visit. May God and St. Therese go with you.

Fr. Eugene McCaffrey.
Editor (www.sttherese.com)

Report on the visit to ...
June 27th - St. Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Derg
June 26th - Holy Trinity Cathedral, Waterford
June 25th - Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles
June 24th - Carmelite Community, Kinsale
June 23rd - SMA Church Blackrock Road, Cork City
June 22nd - Carmelite College Castlemartyr.
June 21st - St.Colman's Cathedral, Cobh
June 20th - Cathedral of St. Mary's & St. Anne, Cork City.
June 19th - St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney.
June 18th - St. John's Cathedral, Limerick.
June 16th - 17th. Carmelite Sisters, Tallow, Co. Waterford.
June 15th - Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, Ennis.
June 14th - Church of Cill Einne, Spiddal & Galway Cathedral.
June 11th - 13th June: Loughrea

Preparing for an important Visitor - 16th & 17th. June 2001
- Carmelite Community at Tallow, Co. Waterford.

A very important visitor is expected at the Carmelite Community, Tallow, Co. Waterford on next Saturday & Sunday the 16th. and 17th. June 2001.

But this visitor is altogether different - Tallow is preparing to welcome the Relics of St. Therese of Lisieux and, as one of the local farming community was heard to say, "it's not the Saint that will cause the commotion - its the 50,000 people who come to see her, - that will take some organising".

Under the capable guidance of Sr. Patrice, the community at Tallow have been rounding up volunteers for some months. Over 20 nurses have volunteered to be on call, and the local G.P. was one of the first to step forward.

Two stewards will be on duty with the Relics throughout the visit - even for keeping watch during the night. The local Garda have been involved from the very beginning and have made the necessary arrangements with respect to traffic and will provide the necessary security for the Convent itself during the visit. Members of the Army will form a Guard of Honour and it is fully expected that Tallow will be the center of activity for the sunny South East as it caters for visitors from near and far.

The Reliquary will remain at Tallow Carmel from Saturday 16th June until Monday 18th June midday. Several masses and special Ligurgies have been arranged, a welcoming open-air Mass on the arrival of the Relics; Dawn Mass for the Youth; a Mass for Primary School children and much more. Two neighbouring farmers have offered two more of their fields and now we have the necessary space for car parking and traffic management. Stewards are being organised to keep everything in order on this most important visit.

Every effort is being made to give people time to stay for quiet prayer if they so wish, and yet, we fully understand the need to keep the queue moving in an orderly fashion. Detailed planning has provided for entrances, exits, seating for the not so well and space for wheelchairs, etc. Signs have been printed - Parking, Exit, Confessions, etc. and all these put in suitable places.

Inside the community itself, the Printing Department is working to full capacity to keep up with the anticipated demand for books, cards and souvenir leaflets. Floral decorations are being put in place. Indoor and outdoor p.a. systems are being installed - all this, as well as the usual daily tasks of cooking, cleaning.

This visit means so much to us, the sisters of the Carmelite Community at Tallow, as it will give us a once in a lifetime opportunity to share - our most important visitor - St. Therese of Lisieux.

27th June - St. Patrick's Purgatory, Lough Derg

Lough Derg was originally meant to be the last stop on the seventy-four day "Pilgrimage of Grace". Instead, it became the first, in a number of ways; the first time St. Therese travelled by helicopter and the first time a helicopter ever landed on Lough Derg. There was a wonderful air of excitement and anticipation as the helicopter approached Lough Derg and circled the island before landing. Fr. Eugene McCaffrey OCD travelled on the helicopter from Waterford. "It was marvellous to see the pilgrims gathered in front of the Basilica" he said "waving, cheering and clapping as the helicopter touched down."

The Reliquary was received by Monsignor Richard Mohan, Prior, and carried into the Basilica by six barefoot pilgrims as the whole congregation joined in the singing of the Lourdes Magnificat. The Reliquary was placed in front of the shrine of St. Therese, one of only two in the Basilica. The opening prayers included the recitation of the Litany of St. Therese, a traditional form of prayer on Lough Derg. "This is indeed the day the Lord has made" Fr. Richard said, echoing the words of the entrance hymn "for us, it is the fulfilment of a dream, a dream that one day St. Therese would come, as St. Patrick did, on pilgrimage to Lough Derg." It seemed fitting for St. Therese to visit Lough Derg, a sanctuary hallowed by hundreds of years of prayer and penance and steeped in Celtic tradition and history, a natural marriage of early Christianity and the spirituality of the 21st century.

The barefoot pilgrims continued to visit the Reliquary during the afternoon in between the traditional rounds of "making the beds" and telling the beads. The light drizzle did not lessen the joy for the thousand or so pilgrims who had the luxury of spending as much time as they wanted, close to the casket. Fr. Lar Flynn was the principal celebrant at the evening Mass. "St. Therese is the little child in the Gospel" he said "that Jesus placed before his disciples. We are all called to the same childlike trust and confidence exemplified in her life."

At dusk, the pilgrims gathered in front of the Basillica to say goodbye to St. Therese. It was with sad and lonely hearts that they watched the helicopter lift off across the lake into the fading light. The helicopter landed at Gormanston Army Camp where there was a short service led by the Chaplain, Fr. Robert McCabe for the soldiers and their families. The Reliquary then moved on to the Visitation Convent, Stamullen, for an all night vigil.

26th June - Holy Trinity Cathedral, Waterford

It was a nice coincidence that the relics of St. Therese arrived in Waterford Cathedral on 26th June to visit the last of the 26 Diocesan Cathedrals in Ireland. Before the relics arrived, a wonderful atmosphere had been generated in the Cathedral as the congregation joined in prayer, singing and reflection. The Cathedral itself was beautifully decorated and there were two huge photographs of St. Therese in the sanctuary. Excerpts from her writings were displayed throughout the Cathedral, together with background information on her life and message.

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, William Lee, joined by five Carmelite nuns from the diocese, was on hand to meet the relics at the Cathedral door. The Bishop recited prayers of welcome and the casket was carried into the church by members of the Defence Forces. "We give thanks for this moment of grace." Bishop Lee said "The Little Flower has taken Ireland by storm, but we should remember that her relics point to her person and to her deep and abiding love for God. Her message is very simple: love alone counts." To facilitate veneration, Masses were held in the nearby St. Patrick's Church.

In the Cathedral itself, people were able to attended Morning and Evening Prayer and a special Dawn Mass on Wednesday. Waterford Cathedral's Administrator Fr. Willie Ryan estimates that up to 40,000 people came to Holy Trinity Cathedral to venerate the relics before their departure at noon on Wednesday.

After leaving the Cathedral, the Reliquary made a brief stop at St. Patrick's Hospital, to the joy of the many patients who were waiting for this very special moment. The Thresemobile then made its way to the nearby sports ground where a helicopter was waiting to bear the Reliquary to Lough Derg.

25th June - Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles

Thurles is well used to hosting big events such as Munster Finals, Fleadhs and Feiles, but had never seen anything like this before. It is estimated that over 100,000 people flocked to the town during the visit of St. Therese.

A large crowd was waiting for the Theresemobile when it arrived in The Square on an afternoon of glorious sunshine. From there, it was escorted to the Cathedral by the Administrator, Fr. Eugene Everard, members of the Children of Mary and the children from Scoil Ailbe, all carrying roses. It was received at the Cathedral steps by Archbishop Dermot Clifford and carried into the sanctuary by the Order of Malta. In his words of welcome, Archbishop Clifford said that it was wonderful that a saint could cause such a sense of excitement and unite the whole town and diocese in a celebration of joy and unity. "Today, Therese is our Star Attraction" he said. "In St. Therese's own words: everything is a grace." he continued. "For us today, certainly, it is a grace to have in our presence the greatest saint of modern times"..

Such were the numbers of people attending the evening Mass celebrated by Archbishop Clifford that the crowds overflowed into the Cathedral grounds and along the streets. The homily was preached by Fr. Eugene McCaffrey OCD. Veneration continued throughout the night. An incredible sight was the throngs of people queuing on both sides of the Cathedral in the small hours of the morning, waiting patiently for their turn to visit the Reliquary.

24th June - Carmelite Community, Kinsale

Kinsale was the last Carmelite house to receive the relics of St. Therese and it was indeed an occasion of great joy and celebration for the people of the town. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon the Theresemobile was met by the Prior, Fr. Michael Morrissey O.Carm, the Carmelite community, members of the Carmelite Secular Order, First Holy Communion children and representatives of the U.D.C. The afternoon was graced by the presence of His Excellency Patrick Coveney, Papal Nuncio to New Zealand, a native of Kinsale and by the presence of the Rector of St.Multose Anglican Church, Canon David Williams, and the retired Rector, Canon David Peare.

Fr. Morrissy said that the people of Kinsale had been waiting a long time for the visit of St. Therese but it was well worth the wait. "This is our day" he said "For us, today, Kinsale is at the centre of the world". Fr. Jimmy Murray O. Carm. also spoke of the visit of St. Therese as an invitation to follow her along the way of love and to move closer to God and to each other in friendship and prayer. A lovely feature of the opening ceremony was the precedence given to senior citizens, the sick and the infirm and after they had venerated the relics they received a special blessing and anointing. Another feature of the Kinsale visit was the continuous convoy of coaches that came from all parts of West Cork. Crowds grew larger as the day progressed and the veneration continued throughout the night in an atmosphere of reverence and prayerfulness.

23rd June - SMA Church Blackrock Road, Cork City

Blackrock Road, Cork is well known for its missionary communities; the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the Ardfoyle Sisters, the Ursuline Sisters and the SMA community are all located in the area. Thus, it was natural that the visit of St. Therese to Blackrock Road would have a special missionary focus.

A large crowd was waiting at Ashton School to escort the Reliquary to the church when the Theresemobile arrived. A colour party of scouts and young children, accompanied by a lone piper, led the way. The streets were colourful with banners, flags and buntings and the church itself was beautifully decorated and illuminated for the occasion. The people of Blackrock had prepared over the three days leading to the visit of St. Therese with a Triduum preached by Fr. Philip Brennan O.Carm. The relics were received by Fr. John Quinlan SMA, Provincial, Bishop Patrick Harrington SMA from Lodua, Kenya and the SMA community. Physically disabled people and senior citizens were given precedence during the opening ceremony, assisted by the Order of Malta, St. John's Ambulance and members of the Civil Defence.

Fr. John Quinlan SMA was the chief celebrant at the evening Mass and he spoke about St. Therese as Patroness of the Missions, and of the impact of her spirituality on the work of the SMA missions over the years. He talked about the beautiful shrine of St. Therese, erected in the church in 1929, shortly after her canonisation. This shrine is the focus of the annual Novena - the largest in the city - which has taken place in Blackrock Road ever since the shrine was built. Every year on the Feast of St. Therese, SMA missionaries were commissioned prior to their assignment overseas. In all, over 700 SMA missionaries have been commissioned in front of St. Therese's shrine.

A crowd of over 25,000 visited the Reliquary and many people remarked on the prayerful silence and the atmosphere of reverence that prevailed.

22nd June - Carmelite College Castlemartyr

'This is the day the lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad' was how Bishop John Magee welcomed the Relics of St. Therese to the Carmelite College at Castlemartyr. 'St. Therese has come home' he added 'to her own brothers and to the college named after her'. It was indeed a great homecoming ceremony as Fr. Pat Beecher and the Carmelite community met the Theresmobile at the college gates and escorted it along the avenue, lined with school children.

The beautiful College oratory, adorned with bouquets of flowers, made a perfect setting for the Reliquary. Because of the glorious weather it was possible to hold many of the ceremonies in the open air. Over six thousand people spread across the lawns and gathered around the statue of St. Therese, for the evening Mass. 'I doubt if this historic place, with its ancient castle and Georgian mansion, has ever seen such a sight' said Fr. Peter Cryan, OCD. in his homily. 'On this feast of the Sacred Heart' he added 'it is only right to remind ourselves of St. Therese's message 'that love alone counts'.

Veneration continued throughout the night. There were tears and many sad hearts as the Theresmobile came at midday to collect the Reliquary and made its way to the SMA Church in Cork city.

21st June - St.Colman's Cathedral, Cobh

Cobh was en fete for the visit of St.Therese. St. Colmans's Cathedral, on a glorious mid- summer day, was an ideal setting for such a memorable occasion. Members of the Cobh Urban Council together with ex-service men and women of the O.N.E. and the Local Confraternity Band accompanied the Theresemobile from the town centre. The rich peals of the 47-stroke bell carillon - the largest in Ireland - echoed across the harbour as marines from nearby Haulbouline Station carried the Reliquary into the cathedral. Bishop John Magee led the opening prayers, welcoming St.Therese and all who had come for the historic visit. The cathedral itself was festooned with pictures of St. Therese and with quotations from her writings. As well as confessors, spiritual counsellors were also available throughout the day to offer help, support and guidance.

At the evening Mass Bishop Magee spoke movingly of St. Therese's discovery of her own vocation to be love in the heart of the church; her visit to Cobh was an invitation to base our own lives on the only reality that really matters, God's unconditional and unchanging love for us. A special feature of the Cobh visit was the continuous relay of choirs who sang during the veneration. At midnight, local curate Fr. Timothy Fouhy, and the youth choir led reflections and prayers, which added to the prayerful atmosphere in the cathedral.

The Theresemobile left Cobh at midday and made a short visit to the convent of the Benedictine nuns in the town, giving the cloistered community an opportunity to venerate the relics and also of inviting the small group of visitors to see the beautiful Biblical Garden attached to the convent.

20th June - Cathedral of St. Mary's & St. Anne, Cork City

The people of Cork had to wait eleven weeks for the visit of St.Therese. But for the 12,000 who had gathered - some from early morning - outside the North Cathedral, it was well worth the wait. A colour party of Scouts, Girl Guides and lines of school children formed a guard of honour as the music of the Butter Exchange Band echoed around the grounds and Bishop John Buckley received the Reliquary.

Children were very much to the fore in a very moving welcoming ceremony, directed by the Co-ordinator of the Cork visit, Frances Feehely. The solo voice of a young girl sang the haunting melody 'Miracles' as the Relics entered the hushed Cathedral. Then three boys placed rose bushes- that will be later planted in the grounds of the cathedral- beside the casket. There followed a graceful liturgical dance to the music of one St.Therese's best-known poems 'Unpetalled Rose'. Finally Therese was given a real Cork 'Cead Mile Failte' in a delightful Irish dance sequence.

Veneration continued all through the day and the crowds grew larger as the night approached. In all, it is estimated that 80,000 people visited the Cathedral over the 22 hours. Cork Diocesan Spokesman, Fr. Tom Hayes, said he was not surprised at the interest in the relics of the Little Flower. 'She has been in the popular consciousness of the Irish people long before now. The story of her life is very close to the lives of many people today'.

Before leaving Cork city there was a detour to Cork prison. The Governor and prison authorities made a special request to Bishop Buckley, who contacted the organising committee to facilitate the request. 'Unlike everyone else' Bishop Buckley said 'the prisoners do not have the freedom to come and venerate the Relics. I think St. Therese herself would be very pleased with the visit'. After a brief stopover at the prison there was another short, private visit to the Poor Clare Convent.

June 19th - St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney.
Thousands of people turned out in the bright sunshine in Killarney to greet the Relics of St. Therese. The Theresemobile was escorted to St. Mary's by a guard of honour, accompanied by the music of the Gleneagle Band and the Knights of Malta carried the Relics into the Cathedral.

Bishop Bill Murphy received the Reliquary and prayed that the visit of St. Therese would be a time of special grace and blessing for the town and diocese. Over 30 priests, joined by visiting Bishop Joseph Sartoris of Los Angeles, concelebrated the evening Mass with Bishop Murphy, who told the congregation that St. Therese had been a liberating force in the Church and had restored the true image of God as revealed in the Gospel.

There was a constant stream of people as the cathedral remained open all night and each of the ten deaneries in the diocese was assigned a specific time to visit. Once again, people packed the cathedral for the early morning Mass. The Relics left at midday for Cork after a short farewell service.

June 18th - St. John's Cathedral, Limerick.

Overcast skies and light drizzle did not dampen the enthusiastic response St. Therese received in Limerick. The Theresemobile stopped outside Limerick Prison and was escorted to the cathedral by prison officers and by the City of Limerick Brass Band. Along the way, members of Limerick Fire Brigade, who carried the Reliquary into the cathedral, joined the procession. Bishop Donal Murray was on hand to recite the opening prayers and officially welcome all who had come for the historic visit.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of the Carmelite nuns from Tallow who had travelled with the Reliquary. The cathedral was packed for the evening Mass as Bishop Donal Murray spoke of the extraordinary influence which the life and teaching of St. Therese had on the whole Church over the past 100 years. A constant flow of pilgrims came to venerate the Relics throughout the night.

The Theresemobile left St. John's Cathedral on Tuesday after 10.00 am Mass and a farewell ceremony. Before leaving the city the Theresemobile visited Limerick Prison. The Chaplin Fr. Pat Hogan conducted a special service, at which every prisoner was given the opportunity to venerate the Relics. The prisoners, together with the Ballybrowne Church Choir provided music.

16th - 17 June - Carmelite Sisters, Tallow, Co. Waterford.

It is almost impossible to describe the atmosphere of joy and celebration that exploded in the picturesque town of Tallow a two-day festival in honour of St.Therese. Most of the ceremonies were in the open air and St. Therese blessed the occasion with fine weather! The whole town and surrounding area seemed to be involved, as over 50,000 people passed through the convent grounds over the weekend. The Theresemobile was welcomed at Tallow Bridge by the Carmelite community and a huge crowd - including the Cistercian nuns from nearby Glencairn Abbey, the monks from Mount Melleray - and was escorted to the convent by a Brass & Reed Band and rows of dancing children. The celebration began with an open air Mass at which Bishop William Lee was the chief celebrant; the homily was given by Fr. Eugene McCaffrey, OCD. From 11.00 pm on Saturday night till a Dawn Mass at 5.00 am, over 2,000 young people gathered for a 'Festival of Youth' - a marvelous celebration, which began with a presentation of the liturgical pageant 'Shower of Roses' and continued throughout the night with music, song and prayers. On Sunday there was special ceremony for the sick and infirm. Fr. Michael Farrell, P.P. was the principal celebrant at the evening Mass. For many the highlight of the visit was the closing Mass attended by 2,500 school children from all over west Waterford. The visit ended with the blessing of a beautiful sculpture to commemorate St.Therese's historic visit to Tallow.

15th June - Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis.

There were overcast skies and heavy showers during the morning, but the rain stopped in time for the arrival of St. Therese. A large crowd was waiting at the edge of the town, with a colour party which escorted the Theresmobile to the cathedral, to the rousing tunes of the Tulla Pipe Band. Bishop Willie Walsh was on hand to receive the Reliquary and Fr.Tom Hogan, Administrator welcomed all who had come for this unique and grace-filled visit. The cathedral was packed for evening Mass; the principal celebrant was Fr. Gerry Carey, and veneration continued throughout the night, as the various parishes came in turn to lead the prayers and singing. As the Theresemobile left Ennis, on its way to Tallow, it made a short visit to the Poor Clare Convent in Francis St.

14th June - Church of Cill Einne, Spiddal and Galway Cathedral.

From Loughrea the Thersemobile journeyed to Cill Einne, Spiddal in the Galway Gaeltacht. Along the way, there was a short stop at Barna church, where a large crowd was waiting. In Spiddal the entire ceremony was conducted in the Irish language and over 3,000 people were present during the four-hour stopover. An t-Ath Tomas O Cathain and visiting clergy received the Reliquary. The relics were carried into the church to the haunting melody of 'Graigi Iosa', specially composed for the occasion by Graine O Flatharta, arranged by Charlie Lennon and sung by Mairead Ni Flatharta. The visit ended with evening Mass, accompanied by traditional Irish hymns and music, sung by the local choir and the children's choir. The homily was given by an t-Ath Cillin Curran, OCD, a native of Spiddal, who spoke of St. Therese as a someone with a 'faithful heart', a heart that kept her close to the her family, her friends and to the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels. The relics were carried to the Theresemobile accompanied by a hymn, specially composed for the occasion and played by Johnny Connolly.

14th June - Galway Cathedral. Returning to Galway the Reliquary made a short stop at the Poor Clare convent in Nun's Island. From there it was carried in procession to the cathedral; the soft, gentle rain seem did not seem to bother the large crowd. Galway FCA carried the Reliquary to the musical accompaniment of St. Patrick's Band. Bishop James McLoughlin, the Lord Mayor of Galway Martin Quinn and members of the Corporation, First Communion children and Franciscan friars from the city led the procession.

Bishop McLoughlin spoke movingly about the message of love, which St.Therese's visit was proclaiming everywhere she went. The vast Basilica, beautifully decorated with roses and ablaze with candles, made an ideal setting to accommodate the ten of thousands that came all through the night. During veneration a youth choir from France sang hymns and folk songs in Therese's own language. There was a Healing Service on Friday morning, followed by a Farewell Mass and final prayers.

11th - 13th June: Loughrea

Loughrea had never seen anything like it. Over 40,000 thousand people gathered into the town for a three-day festival in honour of St.Therese. The town itself was ablaze with banners, flags, buntings and pictures of the saint, while the glorious weather added to the air of celebration. Because the town is host to both Carmelite nuns and Carmelite Friars and also to the Cathedral of the Diocese, Loughrea was especially privileged, with the reliquary visiting three centers.

The Theresemobile arrived a little late because of the huge numbers waiting in the various towns and villages along the road, but it made little difference to the enthusiastic crowd - including both Carmelite communities, hundreds of children and the local girls schools band - waiting at Hanley's Cross to welcome the Reliquary and escort it to the Carmelite Abbey. Fr. Finian Monahan, OCD, Prior, welcomed all who had gathered for the historic event.

In the afternoon there was a Healing Service and anointing of the sick, and that night the Abbey was packed for the concelebrated Mass, as Fr. Finian spoke on the life of St.Therese and her central insight into God's merciful love, as she had discovered it in the Gospel. Veneration continued all night, with readings, prayers and devotions.

Sr. Philomena, Prioress, and the Carmelite community were at the convent door to welcome their sister, St.Therese, when she arrived at Monastery of St. Joseph at 2.00 pm on Tuesday. There was a quiet, prayerful atmosphere throughout the day and a constant flow of people, savouring the silence and the stillness of the convent chapel. Bishop John Kirby spoke at the evening Mass of the significance of St. Therese's 'Little Way' and the simplicity of her message. The chapel remained open throughout the night. In the morning there was a special veneration service for the Primary School children, before the Reliquary departed for the cathedral at 1.00 pm.

Although it is only a short distance from the convent, it took an hour for the large procession to wind its way through the streets of the town to St. Brendan's cathedral. Bishop John Kirby spoke of the impact St. Therese's visit already had on the town and diocese. At 8.00 pm the cathedral was filled to capacity for the Youth Mass. Bishop Kirby spoke of St.Therese as a young saint, whose life was a source of inspiration and encouragement for all young people and an invitation to them to become more fully involved in the life of the church.

There was a wonderful atmosphere during the Midnight Mass. Fr. Frank Quinn, OCD spoke movingly of St. Therese's insight into the compassionate and tender love of God, the gentle Father revealed through the pages of the New Testament. The Mass was followed by a torchlight procession around the grounds of the cathedral. For many, this was the highlight of a remarkable three-day visit to Loughrea, beautifully coordinated, for which Fr. Cathal Geraghty, Administrator, and the wonderful team of volunteers, from the three venues, must take the highest possible praise.