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g welcome r St herese
By Bronwen Clune
It was in the early hours of a warm and balmy Thursday morning on 31 January that the relics of Saint Therese arrived in Perth. The 'Soldier's Saint' was fittingly ushered into the grounds and church of Infant Jesus Parish in Morley by soldiers of the Australian army, while most were unaware of the phenomenon that passed and the St Therese fever that was about to grip so many. Despite a 2.30am rise, a dedicated crowd of about 900 followers gathered in the car park of the parish to welcome the Little Flower to Australia. But it was a modest start to what has become a force with a life of its own, which so many in other parts of the world have already experienced. In New York City she closed Fifth Avenue. In Ireland she drew 75 per cent of the Irish population to venerate and pay their respects. If the start of the tour in Perth is anything to go by. then it looks like she is going to do the same here in Australia. By the time The Record went to press on Wednesday organisers estimated nearly 40,000 people had visited the relics. For the three days the relics were at the Morley parish, which was open 24 hours a day, about 25,000 people came to venerate them and to pray. Young. old, those who had not been to church for a long time. Buddhists and Anglicans among them. The Morley parish, administered by priests of the Discalced Carmelite order, had the honour of being the first stop in the tour of the Australian relics. And the parish community met the challenge with amazing enthusiasm that paid off for everyone involved it was evangelistic: were the words Graham Pittaway used to sum up the presence of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux at the Infant Jesus Parish. As parish chairman of the relics committee he has overseen preparation for the visit since April last year and he couldn't have asked for more from it. Mr Pittaway said he was there at all times
Hundreds watch as an honour-guard of firemen transport the reliquary of St Therese into Our Lady of Mt Carmel parish church in the southern Perth suburb of Hilton. The church was the third stop on the WA tour of the relics. Pte.-tv ,'e- •
of the day and there was always someone venerating, except for during Mass and prayers. "Everyone here has their own story. and there are many stories to be told of people who haven't been to church for 20-odd years, people leaving in tears and people leaving in joy. "At a Mass on Saturday night we had two Buddhists, and we also had two ushers on the Saturday evening Mass who were Anglican- I thought that was magnificent."
The youth Mass on Saturday also drew a huge response with 1,400 young people attending, pushing the crowd well out in the car park. "We were overwhelmed with the atmosphere and response by everyone," Mr Pittaway said. Fr Gerard Moran, Prior of the Discalced Carmelite community in Morley, said the These two ladies at Hilton parish last Tuesday visit of the relics had been "God at Work." typify the enthusiastic welcome for Therese that Continued - Pages 8 & 9 has followed her relics overseas and which has Early morning welcome - Page 16 manifested Itself just as strongly in WA.
Purslowe Funeral Homes are proud to be the major sponsor for the visitation of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux.
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