Twenty Two Hours of Joyful Faith

Just before 2pm on 2nd October, loud applause from the long queue unable to get into the Cathedral greeted the arrival with police outriders of the vehicle carrying the relics of St Therese. The Cathedral bells also sounded their welcome as Bishop Terence blessed the casket and with the Canons of the Chapter led the procession into the Cathedral with the Knights of St Columba and the Lourdes Brancardiers carrying the casket.

The Cathedral was packed to the doors with representatives from the local primary schools including in pride of place children from St Therese of Lisieux, Ingleby Barwick, parishioners from across the Diocese and many from other Dioceses. After the Liturgy of the Word, and a small reflection from Bishop Terence, he and all the members of the Chapter venerated the relics.

It was then the turn of the congregation as they made their way in a long line, most carrying roses, past the casket either kissing it or placing their hand on it. The children took their place first, and then the adults – young and old, in good health and not so good health. The veneration continued through the day, the evening and the night, continuing through the night until just before the Mass of Anointing. Carmelite Sisters from Darlington joined the congregation for the full 22 hours and during the night there were over 100 people in the Cathedral quietly praying. The Bishop led the Sacrament of Reconciliation and this continued through the day and into the early hours of the morning.

On the Friday evening, the Mass of St Therese was concelebrated by Bishop Terence along with a large number of Diocesan priests – again there was not a spare seat in the Cathedral, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or the Hall with many standing. Young people representing the secondary and primary schools of the Diocese all played their part in the liturgy by proclaiming the word and prayers of intercessions, leading the book of the gospels in procession and presenting the offertory gifts to the Bishop. The gifts included a small book of the Gospels, a copy of St Therese’s autobiography ‘The Story of a Soul’, a White Rose (her father gave her a white flower when she told him she wished to enter Carmel) and a Statue of Our Lady of Smiles as well as the offertory gifts of Bread and Wine. The music for the Mass was led by a large number of young people from our secondary schools and helped to build a wonderful celebratory atmosphere.

After Mass, devotions continued with sung Evening Prayer and Night Prayer and then on Saturday morning, a Dawn Mass celebrated by Mgr Gerard Dasey, the Vicar General, which was attended by over 500 and was followed by a sung Morning Prayer as well as a short prayer service every hour led by the monks of Ampleforth.

The Mass of Anointing on Saturday morning was a magnificent occasion with the church being full to capacity and people waiting outside. Over 30 priests joined Bishop Terence including Canon Louis Collingwood and Fr Tony Barry, both in their wheelchairs, looking frail but pleased to be present and welcomed warmly by the congregation.

At the beginning of Mass, the Rector of the Basilica in Lisieux, Mgr Bernard Lagoutte, greeted everybody in French (translated by Mgr Keith Barltrop, the organiser of the visit of the Relics to England and Wales), and then presented to the Bishop a memento associated with St Therese’s parents. Bishop Terence led the priests as they moved throughout the Cathedral celebrating the Sacrament of Anointing.

After Communion, the Bishop thanked all who had helped in any way to ensure that the visit had been such a success.

Finally, the Bishop blessed the casket again with holy water, and after David Barwick, our new Youth Worker, had read a message that Pope Benedict had given to young people in Cologne 2005, the casket was then carried from the Cathedral by the Knights of St Columba to the waiting car. Bishop Terence and the clergy applauded as the relics left for St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds with the Bishop waving a handkerchief (which is a very Spanish tradition).

Well over 10,000 people passed through St Mary’s Cathedral to venerate the relics of St Therese, and we are all grateful to those who helped in any way to make the visit such a success, in particular Fr Gerard Robinson, the Diocesan Organiser, and his planning team. It will truly be a time for all to remember and a unique event in the 130 years of the history of the Diocese.

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