Relics of St Anthony of Padua return to Ireland and UK

Fr Mario with St Anthony's Reliquary

'Still haven't found what you're looking for?' Ask Saint Anthony! He's the popular saint known to help people find lost items and his miracles have won him affectionate veneration among Christians and non-Christians alike.

This week, the Saint's relics begin their visit of Ireland, Scotland and England, in Cahir, Co Tipperary and between 9th June and 28th June thousands of devotees will be turning out to welcome back their much loved Saint.

St Anthony will be visiting in the form of two relics, one of which is the relic Pope Francis venerated sixteen years ago in Argentina as Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.

The future Pope led a procession through the streets of the Argentinian capital in 2000, carrying in his hands a reliquary containing a piece of St Anthony's floating rib.

Francis' devotion to St Anthony stems from the Saint's love, care and concern for the poor and marginalised. Known for helping people find lost items, St Anthony intercedes with those trying to find a job, a home, faith, love, hope and mercy.

In his writings, St Anthony often speaks of mercy, describing God as the 'Father of Mercy'. Pope Francis has made mercy one of the primary focuses of his papacy and the Jubilee Year of Mercy is a special period of universal pardon, emphasising God's forgiveness and mercy.

"Relics are parts of the body of a saint who was the Temple of the Holy Spirit." - Pope Francis

Last time the relics of St Anthony visited Ireland there were traffic jams in cities and towns around the country as devotees flocked to honour their much loved Saint - the 13th century friar who was one of the earliest members of the Franciscan Order founded by St Francis in 1209.

Padua-based Greyfriar, Fr Mario Conte, Editor of the Messenger of Saint Anthony magazine will accompany the relics - a small piece of a the Saint's floating rib and layers of cheek skin. According to Fr Mario: "There is nothing superstitious about relics. The real meaning of a relic is love - they are a link of love between the person who venerates and the saint."

St Anthony died in 1231 and was originally buried at Sancta Maria Mater Domini Church in Padua. His remains were later moved, in 1263, to the current Basilica in the Italian city.

When St Bonaventure, who was head of the Franciscan Order at the time, presided over the opening of Anthony's coffin, he discovered that the Saint's vocal organs were still intact, including a red and soft tongue. "Oh blessed tongue, that ever praised the Lord and led others to praise Him!" St Bonaventure exclaimed. He knew it was no coincidence as the Saint had been known as a wonderful preacher of the Gospel.

The 2016 tour will see the relics visit Cahir, Killarney, Knock, Sligo, Dublin, Longford, Derry and Armagh in Ireland before the relics cross to Scotland where they will visit Paisley. They then continue to Middlesbrough, Manchester, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Birmingham and London.

The relics will remain exposed during the Eucharistic Celebrations taking place on the dates and at the venues below. At the conclusion of each Mass, all those attending will be invited to approach the relics and to receive an extraordinary blessing.

RELIC TOUR PROGRAMME

Ireland June 9 - 17

THURSDAY, JUNE 9
TIPPERARY CAHIR
St Mary's Parish
T:052 7443447
12noon; 7.30 pm: Masses;
Veneration from after 12 noon Mass

FRIDAY, JUNE10
KILLARNEY
St Mary's Cathedral
T: 064 6631014
10.30am; 6.15 pm: Masses;
Veneration all day

SATURDAY, JUNE 11
KNOCK
Basilica of Our Lady
T: 094 9388100
3.00pm (Polish); 7.30 pm: Masses
11.00am: Veneration all day

SUNDAY, JUNE 12
SLIGO
St. Mary's Cathedral
T: 071 9162670
12.00noon; 7.00pm: Masses
Veneration all day after 12noon Mass

MONDAY, JUNE 13 Saint Anthony's Feast Day
DUBLIN
St Mary's Pro Cathedral
T: 353 1 874 5441
Masses 12.45pm; 5.45pm with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Veneration continues between Masses up to 8pm

TUESDAY, JUNE 14
LONGFORD
St Mel's Cathedral
T: 043 334 6465
1.00pm; 6.30pm (with Bishop Duffy):
Masses; Veneration all day

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
DERRY
St Eugene's Cathedral
T: 028 7137 7494
Schedule:
Wednesday 15 June
Formal welcome of the relics at St Eugene's at 12noon
Veneration continues until 7.30pm Mass
Veneration continues after Mass until 10pm

Thursday 16 June
Mass 8am and 10am
Veneration continues up to 1pm.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
ARMAGH
St Patrick's Cathedral
T: 028 3752 2802

Thursday 16 June
Veneration from 4.00pm
7.30pm Mass with Archbishop Eamon Martin

Friday 17 June
Mass 10am
Veneration continues until 1pm

Britain June 19 - 28

SCOTLAND

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
PAISLEY, SCOTLAND
St Mirin's Cathedral
T: 0141 889 2404
11am Bishop John Keenan will process relics from diocesan office to cathedral
Masses: 12.00noon with Bishop John Keenan; 2.30pm (Polish); 6.30pm
Veneration: 11.00am; 1.00-2.30pm; 3.30-6.30pm; 7.15-8.00pm

ENGLAND

MONDAY, JUNE 20
MIDDLESBROUGH
St Mary's Cathedral
T: 01642 597750
12.00noon (Bishop Drainey); 6.30pm: Masses
9.00am (sung prayer); 1.00pm (sermon-Fr. Mario); 4.30pm (choral vespers)
9.30-12.00noon; 1.30-4.30pm; 5.00-8.00pm: Veneration

FROM TUESDAY, JUNE 21
TO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22
MANCHESTER, SALFORD
St John's Cathedral
T: 0161-817-2210

Tuesday: 12.10pm: Mass;
Veneration all day from 11.00am;
Wednesday: 10.00am: Mass
9.00-10.0am; 10.45am-12.10pm; 1.00pm till late afternoon: Veneration

THURSDAY JUNE 23
SHEFFIELD
Cathedral of St Marie
T: 0114-272-2522
Masses: 12.45pm with Bishop Ralph Heskett; 5.30pm:
Veneration: 10.15-11.15am; 1.30-5.00pm;6.15-7.00pm
11.30-12.30 (Holy Hour); 12.30-12.45pm (Prayer)

FRIDAY, JUNE 24
SHREWSBURY
Cathedral of Our Lady Help of
Christians
T: 01743.364.256
Veneration from 11am to 7.30pm
Masses: 12.15pm; 7.30pm

SATURDAY, JUNE 25
BIRMINGHAM
St Chad's Cathedral
T: 0121 236 5535
Mass 10.00am; 4.30pm Vigil Mass for Sunday
Veneration all day until 8pm

FROM SUNDAY, JUNE 26
TO TUESDAY, JUNE 28
LONDON
St Anthony's Parish
56 St. Anthony's Road
Forest Gate
T: 020 8472 0433
Sunday:
Mass 12.00noon:
Veneration 1pm to 8pm:

Monday:
Masses 7.45am;10am: 6pm with Bishop Alan Williams
Veneration 1pm to 8pm:

Tuesday:
Mass 10am
Veneration from 10.30am to 3pm