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Relics of St Teresa of Lisieux, virgin and doctor, Coming to South Africa, 2010

For the first time ever!

St Teresa, virgin and doctor, also known as St Teresa of the Child Jesus

Patroness of the missions
Relics (from old French relique, Latin reliquiae) are parts of a deceased holy person’s body or belongings kept as an object of reverence.

St Therese was born in 1873, youngest of 9 children. She entered the Carmel of Lisieux at the age of 15, where she lived as a member of Strict Order for 9 years. During this time she was offering to God what she called “flowers”, little kindness to others, little sacrifices, all done from a tender and ardent love for God. This is what she called her “Little Way”, the way of spiritual childhood. Therese, who desired always to be a little child and wanted to be called “little Therese, was devoted to to the Blessed Sacrament, Mary, and Joseph. She was filled with extraordinary love for God and neighbour, and a tender love for the church. Therese offered her life to God for priests and missionaries. She died of tuberculosis on September 30, 897. She was beatified in 1923 and canonised in 1925. Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a doctor of the church in October 1997. Her feast is celebrated on 1 October. Her relics are travelling around the world. She remains one of the youngest saints in the church, a model even to young people and children.

In 2010, for the first time ever, the Relics of St Teresa of Lisieux will be coming to South Africa from June 20, for 6 weeks. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, Archbishop of Johannesburg, has given his blessings to this historic occasion. In Johannesburg, it is planned that the Relics will first go to the Cathedral and proceeds to interested parishes, convents and institutions. The interested dioceses/ institutions are also welcome to make bookings.

Please note that you will need to cover the costs of the Relics’ travelling to your diocese/ institution by air or by car. It is also requested that where possible a special collection/donation is forwarded to the organisers to help cover travelling costs from France to South Africa and back. Please book as soon as possible so that we can finalise the details.

For bookings, donations, and information, contact:
Fr Vusi Sokhela (0721498703, 011 487 2299, vsokza@telkomsa.net, fax 011 6481014) or
Fr Shaun Von Lillienfield (01140231501, 0837630807).

Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us
St Teresa of the Child Jesus pray for us
God bless you

SAINT THERESE - "VISIT OF THE RELICS"

ITINERARY
    Friday June 25th Arrival OR Tambo International
    Direct to Carmelite Convent
    Saturday June 26th Carmelite Convent
    Sunday June 27th Carmelite Convent
    Monday June 28th Depart for Geluksdal
    Tuesday June 29th Our Lady of Geluksdal
    Wednesday June 30th Depart for St Hubert Alexandra
    Thursday July 1st
    Friday July 2nd Depart for Cedars of Lebanon
    Saturday July 3rd Our Lady of Cedars
    Sunday July 4th Our Lady of Cedars
    Monday July 5th Depart to Edenvale
    Tuesday July 6th Depart to Yeoville
    Wednesday July 7th Yeoville
    Thursday July 8th Depart for Cathedral
    Friday July 9th Cathedral
    Saturday July 10th "ALL NIGHT VIGIL"
    Sunday July 11th Cathedral
    Monday July 12th Depart to Tzaneen
    Monday to Sunday July 13 to July 18 Tzaneen
    Monday July 19th
    Tuesday July 20th Depart for Aliwal North Diocese
    Wednesday July 21st Aliwal North Diocese
    Thursday July 22nd Aliwal North
    Friday July 23rd St Therese- Teresa-Walaza
    Saturday July 24th Aliwal North
    Sunday july 25th Afternoon Depart for Kokstad
    Monday to Wednesday July 26th to July 28th Kokstad
    Thursday July 29th Depart for Umzimkhulu
    Friday July 30th Port Shepstone, Christ the King
    Saturday July 31st Christ the King
    Sunday August 1st Umzimkhulu, Port Shepstone
    Monday August 2nd Depart for Melville
    Tuesday August 3rd Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters
    Wednesday August 4th Depart for Durban
    Thursday August 5th St Joseph - Morningside
    Friday to Sunday August 6th to August 8th Durban
    Monday August 9th Depart for Cape Town
    Tuesday August 10th Capuchin
    Wednesday to Thursday August 11th to August 12th Cape Town
    Friday August 13th Depart for Camps Bay
    Saturday to Sunday August 14th to August 15th St Therese - Camps Bay
    Monday August 16th Carmelite Monastery
    Tuesday to Wednesday Augsut 17th to August 18th 69 Retreat Road
    Thursday August 19th Depart for Redemption Monastery -Bergvliet
    Friday to Sunday August 20th to August 22nd Cape Town
    Monday August 23rd Depart for Yeoville Johhanesburg
    Tuesday August 24th Mother Theresa
    Wednesday August 25th Yeoville
    Thursday August 26th Regina Mundi Catholic School Day
    Friday August 27th Depart for Alberton
    Saturday August 28th St Theresa
    Sunday August 29th Alberton
    Monday August 30th Depart for Nazareth House
    Tuesday August 31st Yeoville
    Wednesday September 1st Depart for Mother of Peace
    Thursday September 2nd Northriding
    Friday September 3rd Depart for Yeoville
    Saturday September 4th Depart for Katlehong
    Sunday September 5th Sacred Heart
    Monday to Wednesday September 6th to September 8th Spare Time
    Thursday September 9th Depart for Victory Park
    Friday September 10th St Charles
    Saturday to Sunday September 11th to September 12th Victory Park
    Monday September 13th Depart for Yeoville
    Tuesday September 14th Yeoville
    Wednesday September 15th
    Thursday September 16th
    Friday September 17th Sebokeng, Nyolohelo
    Friday September 24th Craighall Park
    Monday September 27th Depart to Yeoville - Lisiaux

    GUIDELINES


    TO WELCOME THE RELIQUES OF SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX
    1. PROCESS
    2. LOGISTICS
    3. TRAVEL
    4. INLAND TRANSPORTATION
    5. INSURANCE
    6. SECURITY
    7. PREPARATION/ANIMATION
    8. COLLECTIVE THEME

      9. Guideline

      1. PROCESS
        The organizing committee of St Therese of Lisieux Relics gives the opportunity to a diocese/ parish to welcome the Reliques.
        The coming of the Reliques in a parish/ diocese is at the expense of the parish/diocese welcoming the Reliques (travel, local, transportations, insurance, etc)

      2. LOGISTICS
        The Reliques travel in a big wooden box.
        The total weight is 241 kilos.

        The Reliquary is exposed to worshipping within a transparent glass case put upon a wooden stand. Of course, the Reliquary should never be opened.
        The dimensions of the exposed Reliquary are:
        Length: 150m, width: 0,95m, height: 132 kilos.
        (Dimensions for the flight, including the shipping box: 1, 60mx1, 09mx1, 05m. weight: 241kilos)

      3. AIR TRAVEL
        The Reliquary travels on regular air lines, the air fare as per the weight (SAA RECOMMENDED).

      4. INLAND TRANSPORTATION
        For the transportation of the Reliquary an appropriate sport utility or herse- like vehicle is required, as per the weight and dimensions mentioned.
        Two persons should be in the vehicle. The Reliques travel in a wooden box.

      5. SECURITY
        At least two persons should stay by the Reliquary during transportations as well as during worshipping. The Reliquary should never be left alone. When there is no nightly worshipping in the Churches, the Reliquary should stay locked in the rectory or secure room/ place.

      6. PREPARATION/ANIMATION
        It is recommended that the parish/diocese receiving the Reliques forms a committee of persons involved in the preparation of celebrations, the animation, and to help in looking after the Reliquary during the times of worshipping in the parish/diocese.

        These are guidelines from experiences in other countries which welcomed the Reliques. For example:
      7. Collection theme: Human Trafficking
        We are also requesting to pray for an end of human Trafficking in South Africa as part of a collective theme in the presence of the Relics of St Therese of the Lisieux, especially as the Relics will come during this time of the World Cup.

      MEMORANDUM:


      TO THE BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE/ IN CHARGED OF THE PARISH/ FATHER/ SUPERIOR IN CHARGE OF THE / MONASTERY/ CONVENT
      WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE REQUESTED TO HOST THE RELICS OF SAINT THERESE, THE LITTLE FLOWER OF LISIEUX.
      THESE ARE GUIDELINES THAT LISIEUX HAS ASKED US TO ABIDE BY WITH THE GREATEST OF CARE AND CONSIDERATION ESPECIALLY ON SECURITY-

      THE RELIQUARY: LENGTH 1.50CM/ WIDTH .95CM/ HEIGHT .85CM/ WEIGHT 132KILOS. THEREFORE AN APPROPRIATE DIGNIFIED VEHICLE IS REQUIRED. WE SUGGEST A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV) OR A HERSE OR SIMILAR VEHICLE. SECURITY:

      AT LEAST TWO PERSONS SHOULD ALWAYS STAY WITH THE RELIQUARY DURING TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS DURING VENERATION. THE RELIQUARY SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT ALONE.

      WHEN THERE IS NO NIGHT VENERATION IN THE CHURCH, THE RELIQUARY SHOULD STAY LOCKED IN THE PRESBYTERY- SACRISTY- EXCEPTIONALLY WELL SECURED! THE RELICS ARRIVE AT YOUR PARISH- (PLEASE NOTE TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE DUE TO THE DISTANCES IN OUR COUNTRY)

      THE PARA-LITURGY FOR THE VISIT OF THE RELICS- IS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
      THERE SHOULD BE SIX STRONG “BEARERS” FOR THE RELIQUARY, FROM THE HERSE/ VEHICLE INTO THE CATHEDRAL/ CHURCH/ CHAPEL
      1. PROCESSION INTO THE CHURCH, ACCOMPANY BY “ROSE PETALS” BEING STREWN
      2. WELCOME REMARK AND PRAYER
      3. CHOIR SINGING
      4. “SPRINKLING” OF THE CONGREGATION- IF MASS IS TO BE CELEBRATED, THEN THIS COULD BE THE PENITENTIAL RITE
      5. LITANY OF THE SAINTS
      6. TALK ON SAINT THERESE- OR
      7. HOLY MASS- OR/ AND ANOINTING THE SICK – OR- THEN AFTER-
      8. VENERATION- AT ALL TIMES TWO PERSONS TO BE PRESENT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DOME PLACED ON THE DECORATED TABLE- STRICTLY TO BE ADHERED TO. THE DOME COVERING THE RELIQUARY MAY BE TOUCHED, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED-
      9. CHOIR SINGING- MUSIC DURING VENERATION- INTERSPERSED WITH “QUIET TIMES”
      10. RECONCILIATION TO BE AVAILABLE
      11. IF THE HOLY MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED
        12. (PLEASE FORWARD YOUR HOMILY WITH – AND WE ENCOURAGE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE OCCASION FOR OUR “MEMORIAL BOOK” OR WELCOME ADDRESS?)
        HAVE “MEMORABILIA” OF SAINT THERESE- CANDLES AND PRAYER CARDS
        FOR SALE/ DISTRIBUTION, DVD, BOOKS, PAMPHLETS ETC. DISPLAY/ EXHIBITION ON SAINT THERESE-

      FINALLY - COSTS-



      WE WOULD BE REQUESTING EACH PARISH TO MAKE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COST- WHICH INCLUDES-