Chicago archdiocese to receive relic of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Chicago, Ill., Aug 31, 2017 / 16:20 pm

On Sept. 5, Saint Mark's Parish in the Archdiocese of Chicago will receive a first class relic of Saint Teresa of Calcutta for public veneration, which will then be permanently kept in the church.

The relic, which consists of some of Mother Teresa's hair, was requested from the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity by St. Mark's pastor Father Martin Ibarra, and parishioner Fernando Iñiguez.

Iñiguez said that they had asked for the relic to help promote the life and virtues of the recently canonized saint.

"Also, so that the parishioners will be inspired with fervor and a new prospect of evangelization on the parish level and that the will same occur throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago," Iñiguez told CNA.

On September 5, Fr. Ibarra will celebrate Mass at the parish at 7:00 p.m. to mark the one year anniversary of the canonization of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and in thanksgiving for the arrival and installation of her relic. Missionaries of Charity sisters will be present at the celebration.

In the following days, the parish will organize pilgrimages, novenas, and other events at parishes that would like to have the relic visit.

Saint Mark's Church will be the only parish with a relic of Mother Teresa in the archdiocese. It is also the only church that has a first class relic of Padre Pio, which consists of a vial of his blood.

"As the community of Saint Mark's we feel blessed and happy to have the relic of such an important woman on the world level in every sense and aspect of life," Fr. Ibarra said. "But especially in the power she conveys through her evangelization and humanitarian service to the most needy."