It was a very special and holy time in the life of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The power and presence of God was manifest in a powerful way during the time that St Thérèse was with us.

The arrival of the relics at St Chad’s Cathedral on Saturday 19 September, picture by Peter Jennings

None more so than at the Service of Welcome celebrated by Bishop Philip Pargeter, who recently retired as Auxiliary Bishop, and Mass and Anointing of the Sick celebrated by Bishop David McGough, Auxiliary Bishop, on Saturday afternoon.

In his homily Bishop McGough said: ‘From the earliest times in the Church the faithful have gone on pilgrimage to Holy Places to feel closer to the events that unfolded in those places, to feel closer to holy men and women who were buried in these places. Today the pilgrimage is reversed. The relics of St Thérèse have come to us.’

The Cathedral was full for the midnight youth Mass that I attended with my wife Stella, an Anglican. It was encouraging to see so many young people venerating the relics of the Little Flower at a time when the media gives the impression that most young people are not interested in Christianity.  

Bishop William Kenney, CP, Diocesan Administrator for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, celebrated and preached at the 4.30 pm Mass on Sunday afternoon for Religious. Bishop Kenney is a member of the Passionist Community.
Bishop Kenney celebrated and preached at the 6.30 am Mass and Farewell Ceremony attended by more than 200 pilgrims, including the Carmelite nuns from Wolverhampton and Scotland, some of whom remained near the relics throughout the visit.

During his homily, Bishop Kenney said: ‘Thérèse now wanders further to Coleshill - where she is going to be part of another community there. - The Parish Church of the Sacred Heart & St Thérèse’, where Fr Marcus Stock, soon to take up his appointment as General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, is Parish Priest.

Bishop Kenney emphasised: ‘What we need to realise is that her coming to us is undoubtedly a grace; that grace is only effective in so far that it makes me wish to go on my pilgrimage to look forward to God.

‘If saying farewell to these relics is to bring something to us it should be yours and my intention not to say farewell but to continue on our pilgrimage to God. We are grateful for this time that she has been with us; we hope that she will inspire us on our way to the Kingdom of Heaven.’

Asked for his thoughts after the relics had left St Chad’s Cathedral, Bishop Kenney paused for a moment and replied thoughtfully: ‘The visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux to St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham has been a time of great grace for the Diocese, and in particular for the many thousands of pilgrims who came to venerate them in person.’

A young family visiting the relics at St Chad’s Cathedral on Saturday 19 September. Picture courtesy of CBCEW

Bishop Kenney added: ‘All of us need reminders that it is possible to be holy by doing the ordinary things of life extraordinarily well.’

A delighted Canon Patrick Browne, Administrator of St Chad’s Cathedral, described the visit of the relics St Thérèse as a ‘marvellous occasion’. He said: ‘I marvel at the crowds of people who came and the distance from which they came. I marvel at the faith of the pilgrims whose joy and devotion was so evident. I marvel at the patience and understanding of the pilgrims many having to wait a long time before they could spend a moment before the relics.

‘I marvel at the smooth way our volunteers co-coordinated the movement of the crowds and the professional approach to dealing with situations that arose. People were moved greatly by the occasion and it will remain with them for a long time.’

Canon Browne added: ‘There have been many inspiring and uplifting celebrations at St Chad’s Cathedral but the visit of the relics of St Thérèse must be one of the most moving, prayerful and remarkable.’