Perth Catholics prepare for arrival of ‘the Little Flower’

Perth Catholics are preparing to welcome the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents Sts Louis and Zelie Martin on Saturday 25 April.

After 18 years since the French saint’s relics last visit in 2002, the trio arrived in Sydney in mid-January and will stay in Australia for a four-month pilgrimage from February to May 2020.

Infant Jesus Church, Morley Parish, will be the first Perth parish church to welcome St Thérèse and her parents from 25 to 27 April, followed by Carmelite Monastery in Nedlands.

The relics of the saints will then head to the Diocese of Bunbury on 30 April until 4 May, before heading back to Archdiocese of Perth on 4 May to Willetton Parish. They wil also visit the parishes of Gosnells and Fremantle before finishing at St Mary Cathedral in Perth from 8 to 10 May.

St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, Fr Sean Fernandez, who is part of a team coordinating the Perth pilgrimage, said the coming of the relics will give Catholics the opportunity to feel close to the Little Flower and her parents.

“The relics speak to us of heaven and earth coming together in people who embrace the will of God for them in Jesus and live it with love,” Fr Sean said.

“Being in the presence of the relics blesses us with the sense of Christ’s presence, power and healing which continues to touch our lives through the saints who journey with us and whom we love,” he said.

St Thérèse – known as the Little Flower of Jesus – is the patron saint of missions.

The pilgrimage will link with InvoCare’s funeral homes and memorial parks across the dioceses, including WN Bull Funerals and Purslowe & Chipper Funerals (Perth), as well as Archer & Sons Funeral Homes (Bunbury).

National Director of Catholic Mission, Fr Brian Lucas, said the pilgrimage had already generated significant public interest.

“Several additional parishes joined the itinerary in the last month. The co-operation of the Carmelites, diocesan representatives and the staff of InvoCare has been tremendous and we are now at the stage were local venues can begin to plan their own events,” he said.

“This is an important and unique opportunity for a prayerful focus on three main themes: mission, family and disability.

“St Thérèse is the patroness of the missions and Pope Francis is constantly reminding us of the need for the Church to go out into the world and engage in the concerns of modern times,” he continued.

St Thérèse’s relics first visited her fellow Carmelites in Varroville NSW where a meeting of Carmelite Sisters was held before heading to Brisbane, Queensland at the beginning of February and they are currently in northern New South Wales.

The relics of St Thérèse and her parents are next scheduled to visit Canberra before spending the Easter weekend in Victoria.

The full pilgrimage schedule for the Archdiocese of Perth:

Morley Parish Infant Jesus Catholic Church (Carmelite Fathers)

Carmelite Monastery, Nedlands

Willetton Parish Sts John and Paul Catholic Church

Gosnells Parish Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Fremantle Parish St Patrick’s Basilica Catholic Church

Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Perth