Anecdotes from the journey of St Therese to USA in 1999
by Eric Bell, O.Carm

My journey began on Saturday, 2 October 1999.  I left Washington, D.C. for Newark, New Jersey on the 8:05 AM train.  At 11:24 AM I arrived and was met by Bob Boley, who took me to our Englewood house.  There I found the Ford Club Wagon which we had purchased for the trip.  The back seats had to be removed so that the relics of St. Therese could be transported safely.

Relics Arrive in New York City
5 October

On Tuesday, 5 October, I prepared for the trip to New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral where I was to meet up with three bus loads of people who were invited to attend the welcoming ceremony at JFK airport.  We left at 4:30 AM to drive through the city, unencumbered by traffic since no one was on the streets at that time of the morning.  The 100 people arrived all carrying bunches of roses of every color. When we arrived at the airport we were escorted to the VIP press room to await the news that the plane had landed. It was here that I met Fr. Don Kinney, O.C.D., who was to be my traveling companion for the next five weeks. At about 6:00 AM word was sent that the plane was on it's final approach.  Twenty people, including Bishops Ahern and Daily of Brooklyn, were cleared by the FBI to enter the secure area of the airport.  They were transported by a Port Authority bus to the plane where the relics were removed from the cargo hold of the plane.  The Bishops welcomed Therese with a few prayers and many photos were taken by the press.  In the darkness of the early morning the relics were then taken to the VIP waiting room, where is reserved for the President and visiting heads of State and the Diplomatic corp.  Hence the tight security (the President was due to arrive in two days).  There the relics were uncrated and unloaded from the truck and six Port Authority Police in full dress uniform and a color guard escorted the relics in a procession of about a two block distance to the VIP Press room where the 80 or so other greeters were waiting.  After a short prayer service and words of welcome the relics were loaded into the "Theresemobile" for the trip to LaPlata, Maryland.  The final gesture of welcome was when an elderly woman came forward with a bouquet of pink, long stemmed roses and placed them on top of the reliquary.  We were told she was the daughter of the woman who had made the third miracle needed for the canonization process.

LaPlata, Maryland
Carmel of Port Tobacco

The nuns at Port Tobacco and about 200 people met us at the gates of the monastery at 6:00 PM.  It was here that we were offered our first bribe. One of the neighbors of the convent who lives in the house just before the monastery gates offered us $20.00 to drop the relics off at his house.  We kept refusing, saying that $20.00 wasn't a big enough bribe.  When we left the next day he was resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get the relics into his house so he asked us to just drive over the grass on our way past his house.  This we did, though we never did see the $20.00.  The ceremonies at LaPlata were a beautiful beginning to the trip.  The monastery is so steeped in history since it is the first Carmelite Monastery in the United States, dating back 209 years.  The nuns had a holy hour that night with benediction and veneration of the relics until 11:00 PM.  We estimated that 600 people had been there that evening.  The next morning Mass was celebrated by Fr. Don Kinney; at 12:00 PM the Auxiliary Bishop of Washington celebrated Mass.  Just before the 12:00 PM Mass the nuns visited with us.  They had on display the picture of the Holy Face that was loaned to them for the occasion.  This was the picture that Therese had in her room; it had been given to Pope Leo XIII and he gave it to the first church to be named in honor of the Holy Face, which is in Maryland.  The relics were then transported to Washington and the Carmelites on Lincoln Road.  In all we estimated that 1,000 people had been to LaPlata to visit with Therese.

Washington, D.C.
Lincoln Road Discalced Monastery

It only took one hour to travel to Washington.  We didn't realize that there was going to be a crowd to welcome us at Lincoln Road, so we had to find a place to change into our habits as the media was also there. The only place close to the Lincoln Road monastery was the parking lot of the Bishops Conference.  So unexpectedly and unknown to the bishops, Therese paid a visit to the Bishops of the United States.  After a short welcome ceremony the relics where placed on display and the people started to come.  That evening about 600 people came to the chapel for Mass, benediction and an all night vigil.

Washington, D.C.
Basilica and National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The next morning, 7 October, the relics were taken to the Basilica and National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where Bishop Lori, auxiliary of Washington, celebrated the noon Mass.  About 6,000 people were in attendance.

Washington, D.C.
Whitefriars Hall

Thursday night the relics were at Whitefriars Hall.  They were welcomed with the singing of the Salve Regina and incensing on the front steps of the monastery.  At 7:00 PM Fr. Leo McCarthy, O. Carm, provincial of the PCM Province, celebrated Mass and honored the 50th anniversary of the Lay Carmelites in D.C. After Mass the public, which had been waiting very patiently outside in the brisk night air, were allowed to visit with Therese until midnight.  We were amazed at the number of young people who came.  The next morning the media was present for Morning Prayer and the return of the relics to the Basilica.

Return to the Basilica and National Shrine

The Pro Nuncio celebrated Mass at noon.  The capacity crowd was more organized and more prayerful today.  During the Mass I was asked to give them a little instruction about keeping the aisles cleared until all of the concelebrants were out of the church and to come up in a orderly fashion.  I began by telling them who I was, explaining that I was the custodian of the relics and Therese Chauffeur, and that if they didn't behave and obey the security guards that I would take Therese home.  This brought the house down with laughter.  Hopefully it helped, but I doubt it.

Baltimore, Maryland
Carmelite Monastery

The relics were next welcomed at the Baltimore Carmel, where the nuns had prepared a 7:30 PM Evening Prayer service.  The relics were viewed by the faithful until 11:00 PM.  The next morning Fr. Don celebrated Mass.  The relics were carried out of the chapel by the nuns and a few men, as well as Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend.  We were now on our way to the first stop that was not sponsored by a Carmelite community at the Basilica and National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore.

Baltimore, Maryland
Basilica and National Shrine of the Assumption

We arrived here at 1:00 PM without much fanfare.  Some students and seminarians were there to help carry Therese into the Basilica, the oldest cathedral church in the United States, the Mother Church of Catholicism. Cardinal Keeler presided at sung Vespers at 4:30 PM and celebrated Mass at 5:30.  About 1,100 people were in attendance.  Veneration continued until 10:00 PM.  The next day three Masses were celebrated.  We then prepared for our trip to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Carmelite Monastery

Traffic was backed up for about five or six miles, and so we arrived a the Philadelphia Carmel very late. It was only with the help of a police escort that we arrived as late as we did.  The big surprise was the 1,000 people waiting at the monastery for the relics.  The monastery sits right in the middle of the city; built in the early part of the century it still retains all of the old style of monastic enclosures.  There are only seven nuns here, one of whom is on loan from Chicago. Mass was celebrated by an auxiliary bishop that evening.  It was a trip back in time -- much Latin and Gregorian Chant.  The next day there was a full schedule of religious concerts and prayer services.  The day closed with Mass in the evening.  We estimated that 5,000 people had come to see the relics.

Relics Removed from the Convent to
the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul

A police escort helped move the relics to the Cathedral.  A very beautiful display was prepared for the relics in the Cathedral. The celebrations and hospitality of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were tremendous.  One of the highlights of the many services in the Cathedral was the Mass for children -- 2,500 attended.

Relics in Flemington, New Jersey
A One Hour Stop

Our arrival in Flemington was a joyous one.  The Chapel is small, but very beautiful.  Mass was celebrated and then the relics were taken to the enclosure so the nuns could have some quiet time with them.  One of the men who helped with the celebrations is the father of one of the three novices here and he was allowed to give his daughter a big hug and kiss.

Arrival in Englewood, New Jersey

Fr. Bob Wolfe, O. Carm. and many other Carmelites from the area welcomed us to Englewood.  At noon we escorted the relics down the main aisle of the Church in what had to be the most impressive entrance we had.  The celebrations at St. Cecilia's went very well and were well attended.  Fr. Bob celebrated a Mass with the school children and they sang a song for Therese -- they were the hit of the day.  In the afternoon the relics were taken to St. Therese Church in Cresskill for more prayer services and veneration.

Morristown, New Jersey

The next morning we took the relics to the Morristown Carmel.  Though the chapel is very small, there were hundreds of people there. At one point we took the relics out of the chapel so that the people could venerate them.  A very moving part of this trip was the woman who came to venerate the relics.  She had no legs and no hands, apparently a victim of the thalidomide drug of the 50's.

Newark, New Jersey

The relics were then taken to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark.  The welcome ceremony was beautiful and the archbishop and most of the Carmelites from New Jersey and Middletown were there.  The archbishop celebrated Mass that evening, with thousands of priests, sisters and laity present.

Unscheduled Stop

After Mass, which took two hours, we went back to St. Cecilia's, but we make a stop at the Franciscan Sisters of Charity to leave the relics with them for the night.  This was an unexpected stop but it brought much joy to the 80 nuns, most of whom are sick or retired.  Their convent is only about ten minutes from our parish and the Carmelites serve as their chaplain.

On to New York City

The next morning the relics were taken to the heart of New York City and St. Stephen's/Our Lady of the Scapular parish on 28th Street.  After a series of prayer services and Masses, the relics were taken in a street procession.  After this the relics were taken to St. Patrick's Cathedral.  We estimated that approximately 15,000 people were on hand for the welcome of the relics of St. Therese at the Cathedral.  The church was kept open all night and the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for the veneration of the people.  The next morning there was a mass celebrated by Bishop Patrick Ahern and about 10 other bishops.  Cardinal O'Connor was not able to join us as he was recovering from surgery. At 5:00 AM the next morning we took the relics to St. Thomas Aquinas church in Brooklyn.  We were welcomed by many people.  The relics were next taken to the Cathedral church of Brooklyn, St. James Basilica.  Mass was celebrated by the bishops and hundreds of people.  The relics were then taken to St. Simon Stock church for more veneration of the relics.

Tarrytown, New York

Police arrived to escort the relics out of New York City.  We arrived in Tarrytown and the church was crowded, with about 100 people standing outside.  The church remained open all night so that people could venerate the relics.

Middletown, New York

When we arrived in Middletown, about 1,100 school children were there to welcome the relics. Several huge circus tents had been set up for the prayer services and for hospitality.  About 2,500 people attended Mass that evening.

Roxbury and Boston, Massachusetts

Thanks to a police escort, we arrived at the Roxbury Carmel without incident.  Though there had been a shooting on Mt. Pleasant Street, just down the block from the convent, we arrived safely.  It was somewhat difficult getting the relics into the Convent chapel as the doors were so narrow.  After a morning Mass we headed for the Cathedral in Boston.  The Cardinal and about 50 priests concelebrated Mass there, with very large crowds.

Danvers, Massachusetts

The relics arrived at the Danvers Carmel and the prayer services and veneration went very well.

Worcester and Boylston, Massachusetts

Thanks again to a police escort, we arrived at the Worcester Cathedral safely.  There was a very full schedule of prayer services, Masses and talks for this visit and some people had a difficult time venerating the relics. After the Cathedral services, the relics were taken to St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Boylston where there were prayers services, a Mass and veneration of the relics.

Troy and Albany, New York

When we arrived at the church in Troy the church bells were ringing and hundreds of people were present to venerate the relics.  We then took the relics to the Cathedral in Albany where many people came to pray and venerate the relics.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

The relics were brought into Canada at the Lewiston/Queenston bridge.  The American customs were expecting us and we had no problems bringing the relics into Canada.  The arrival at Mt. Carmel in Niagara Falls was a quiet affair.  The next morning there was a steady stream of people into the chapel to venerate the relics.  That afternoon the relics were taken to the Cathedral of St. Catherine for Mass.  After this they were returned to Mt. Carmel.

Buffalo, New York

Once again, a police escort from Grand Island to the Buffalo Carmel made for an easy trip with the relics. The nuns welcomed us into the enclosure and the relics were venerated.  The relics were then taken to St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo for Mass. Once again, overflowing crowds were in attendance.

Erie, Pennsylvania

New York State Police and Pennsylvania State Police helped escort the relics safely to Erie.  We received a very warm welcome at the Cathedral, and there were prayer services, a Mass and veneration of the relics. That evening the relics were taken to the Erie Carmel.  The next morning there was Mass at the convent.

Loretto, Pennsylvania

When we arrived at the Loretto Carmel the nuns took the relics into the enclosure for their own devotions and then brought them out for the people to venerate.  That afternoon a horse drawn wagon came to transport the relics to the St. Francis College auditorium/gym were the 7:30 PM Mass was to be celebrated.  Many student lined the road to the auditorium with candles.  About five or six thousand people were present for Mass and veneration of the relics.

Terra Haute, Indiana

The Carmel in Terra Haute is very beautiful.  Though a modern building, it is very simple in design.  About 30,000 people came to venerate the relics of St. Therese.  The relics were then taken to St. Bernard Church. The nuns came out of the monastery for this occasion and led all of the prayer services that day.  Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Indianapolis. The relics stayed at this church for the rest of the day and then were returned to the Carmelite chapel that evening. At 3:00 AM the relics were picked up by several OCD Carmelites for their trip to St. Louis.  This was the last stop on my five week quest with the relics of St. Therese.

Eric Bell, O. Carm.
Whitefriars Hall
Washington, D.C.