4th Sunday of Lent

03-15-2026Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

This Thursday, March 19 will be the Feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Something that many parishioners may not know is that we have a relic containing very small pieces of the Blessed Mother’s veil, St. Joseph’s robe and the crib of the child Jesus. This special relic was donated to Holy Family Parish several years ago by parishioner, Nancy Fitzsimmons, which came from a collection of religious articles of her deceased mother, Mary McLaughlin. Documentation came with the relic to verify its authenticity.

The reliquary / vessel containing those pieces has been mounted and is on display within a beautiful wooden case designed and constructed specially for this religious treasure by parishioner, Jimmy Costello who passed away a few years ago. It is located for all to see on a counter in front of the image of Jesus – the Divine Mercy near the main entrance of the church. This relic is a fitting gift for our parish whose patrons are Jesus, Mary and Joseph – the Holy Family. I am deeply grateful for Nancy’s kindness and thoughtfulness in giving this special relic to Holy Family Parish. If you haven’t seen it already, I hope you will take the opportunity to view it and spend some time in prayer with the relic, and invite relatives and friends to do the same.

Relics come in three kinds. First class relics are parts of the body of a saint (usually a piece of bone); second class relics are the clothing or possessions used by a saint during his/her lifetime; and third class relics are objects which have been touched to the tomb or body of a saint. What we have here of the Holy Family is a second class relic. Veneration of relics has a long tradition within our Church in recognition of the person’s status, sanctity and virtue, which is meant to lead the faithful to a deeper devotion through imitation of the saint. Often, miracles are worked by the grace and favor of God through a relic and the intercession of the saint whose relic is used. May this relic be a means by which we may draw closer to the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and be a source of many blessings.

God bless you!