Bringing relics to Australia

The Catholic Church in particular holds great value in the power that comes from being close to a saint or martyr, even when they have long since died. A relic, which is the body or part of the body of some personal memorial of a saint, martyr or other sacred persons, preserved as worthy of being revered; can attract a great many people to them around the world. In 2002 thousands around Australia gathered in prayer as the Relics of St Therese of Liseux toured the country.

Funeral homes combine with the Catholic Church to assist in the transportation of these relics which date back hundreds of years…

Maronite relics

George Hartnett Funerals in Brisbane recently transported the Relics of St.Charbel, St. Nemetallah and St. Rafqu on behalf of the Maronite (Lebanese) Catholic Church.

The funeral home transported the relics around Brisbane. The relics, which are more than 100 years old, were encased in a hand carved replica ancient wooden Phoenician sailing ship placed inside a special reliquary. It's the first time the relics have left Lebanon.

According to the Maronite website (www.maronite.org.au), “the relics visit is an invitation to renew the faith of the faithful. Lebanon is a land that is rich in Maronite Catholic heritage and culture.”

The site says the “Saints Relics visit is about the future of the Maronite Church. We honour the past in order to secure the future of our Church and our faith. The Visit gives the Australian Lebanese Maronite, as well as the broader Australian Catholic community, an opportunity to get closer to our Saints. As people pray for the ‘meaning of life’, there needs to be a return to faith. Through the Relics visit we are called to remember these Saints, their lives and their virtues, to reflect on how the Maronite faith enriches its people not only in Lebanon but throughout the world.”

Relics of St Margaret Mary Alacoque

Le Pine Funerals in Victoria recently had the honour of transporting the Relics of St Margaret Mary Alacoque around Melbourne. Born in 1647 St. Margaret Mary entered the monastery of the Visitation in Paray-le-Monial in 1671. She experienced numerous apparitions which were confirmed by a confessor and later led to the introduction of the feast of the Sacred Heart throughout the world. She was canonised on 13th May 1920 and made Saint Claude la Colombiere on 12th May 1992. The relics themselves consist of two shoulder bones, two ribs and a piece of her brain.

Fr. Peter-Damien McKinley initially approached Rocky Di Battista, Manager of Le Pine at Ferntree Gulley to assist the Catholic Church with the transportation in Victoria. Following on from the company's involvement with the transportation of the Relics of St Therese of Liseux in 2002, a meeting was arranged between Fr Peter and Le Pine's Brian Bennett.

Brian said, “I explained to Fr. Peter that I felt that it was a fantastic opportunity to be again involved on such an occasion and immediately began making the necessary arrangements.”

The relics were exceptionally well received given that there had been very little time or opportunity to promote the experience in the wider Catholic community. Large crowds attended the Parishes of Gembrook, Keilor Downs, Camberwell, Brunswick and at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.

“I would like the opportunity to thank the staff who gave up their free time and volunteered to assist with carrying the relics into and out of the various churches,” says Brian.

He adds, “Special thanks must go to our General Manager John Fowler and Leo Kenna, Location Manager of LePine funerals at Mordialloc, who volunteered to pick up the relics at 4.00am and transport them to, Melbourne Airport for departure to Paris.”

Such was the impact made by Le Pine's assistance with the transportation of the relics, it prompted a letter to Brian Bennett from Rev. Fr. Peter-Damien McKinley from St Thomas Moore Parish - The Catholic Church in the Dandenong Ranges. In the letter her says:

“My abundant and heartfelt thanks for your kind and practical assistance during the Australian Pilgrimage of the Relics of St Margaret Mary Alacoque.

Your invaluable contribution and efforts and the Le Pine Funerals staff have been of great assistance to the Catholic Church in Melbourne and Victoria. The practical and extremely helpful voluntary participation of your staff and yourself showed great generosity and goodness on their part and yours and has left a very positive impression on me and many others. The friendly disposition and professional conduct of all the staff is a credit to Le Pine's. Your assistance to phone and facilitate the involvement of the Funeral Directors, T J Scott & Son at Kyneton, and William Farmers at Bendigo, was very kind indeed. Your presence at all the venues in Melbourne was a wonderful sign of your generosity and will be long remembered by me. You have now one very grateful priest friend who has been very happy to make your acquaintance in such an historic adventure. It is difficult for me to imagine such an opportunity happening again in our life times.”