The relics of St. Thérèse will travel the U.S. this fall. The reliquary containing some of her bones first came from France to the U.S. in 1999 and drew more than 1 million people in 25 states. The relics were at Shrine in 1999 and drew more than 75,000 visitors in one day. Now, 25 years later, it is a special blessing that the reliquary will be visiting the U.S. during the 100th anniversary year of her canonization and for the Jubilee Year of the Church, according to the tour’s U.S. coordinator, Fr. Donald Kinney, a Discalced Carmelite priest at the Carmelite House of Prayer in California. The first stop is here at Shrine and corresponds with her feast day, Oct. 1. The tour will make 40 stops in 11 states. Fr. Kinney noted that St. Thérèse, herself, wrote in “Story of a Soul,” her autobiography: “I would like to travel over the whole earth to preach the Gospel.” “There have been great crowds and great blessings everywhere,” Fr. Kinney said. “Such continued worldwide acclaim is unprecedented in the history of the Church. St. Thérèse continues to be loved as ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’
Wednesday, October 1 (Feast of St. Thérèse)
Feast Day with Parishioners and the Archdiocese of Detroit.
3:00 pm – Opening Mass open to the public. Veneration of relics followed by Mass until 7:00 pm Mass.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm - Confessions.
7:00 pm - Mass. Veneration of relics after Mass.
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Thursday, October 2: (Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels)
6:30 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:00 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
12:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Confessions.
7:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Friday, October 3:
6:30 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:00 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
12:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Confessions.
7:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Saturday, October 4: (Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi)
8:30 am Mass. Veneration of relics.
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm – Confessions.
4:30 pm – Vigil Mass (Feast of St. Therese). Veneration of relics.
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Sunday, October 5 – Feast of St. Faustina
7:30 am – Mass.
9:30 am –Mass.
11:30 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
3:30 pm – Mass (in Spanish). Veneration of relics.
6:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Monday, October 6:
6:30 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:00 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
12:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Confessions.
7:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:30 pm – Veneration ends.
10:15 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Tuesday, October 7: (Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary)
6:30 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:00 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
12:00 pm – Mass. Veneration of relics.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Confessions.
7:00 pm – Mass.
8:30 pm – Basilica cleared and secured.
Wednesday, October 8:
6:30 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
9:00 am – Mass. Veneration of relics.
12:00 pm – Closing Mass. Basilica cleared and secured after Mass.
There will be no veneration after Mass.