THE global head of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition witnessed the enshrinement of a relic of their foundress, St Emilie de Vialar, on 6 March at the only church in the world bearing the saint’s name in Canning Vale.
Superior General Sr Dorothy Vella-Zarb SJA visited St Emilie de Vialar parish in Canning Vale from Rome and presented the relic to parish priest Fr Robert Carrillo and the parish community.
Other attendees included Sr Margaret Anne Beech SJA, Mother Provincial of WA and Thailand; Sr Margaret Mary Gannon SJA, Pastoral Assistant; and Veronica Stratton, Chairperson of the parish’s Pastoral Council.
The relic was enshrined adjacent to a stained glass window depicting St Emilie de Vialar for the purpose of veneration and praying for the saint’s intercession.
The processional hymn, Hymn to St Emilie, was composed and offered to the parish by a founding parishioner, Maryann Heredia.
The parish was founded in 2001.
At the conclusion of the enshrinement, the parish presented Sr Vella-Zarb with the words and music to the hymn and a copy of a local history of the parish.
Two parishioners who participated in the celebration attribute their healing from terminal cancer to St Emilie. They say their prayers for intercession began prior to the beginning of critical surgery and continued up until receiving the all clear.
St Emilie de Vialar Parish Church was officially consecrated and opened on 23 May last year.