National Pilgrimage of Grace News Index
St Francis Xavier Relic visit to Parramatta Diocese
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| The Holy Relic of St Francis Xavier at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta. Photo: Alphonsus Fok & Grace Lu |
A Holy Relic of St Francis Xavier visited the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 November, as part of its National Pilgrimage of Grace.
The Holy Relic visited Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt, St Francis Xavier’s Church in Wentworth Falls (part of St Mary MacKillop Upper Blue Mountains Parish) and St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta.
Having arrived in Sydney on Sunday 16 September, the Holy Relic toured Australia until Monday 3 December, the Feast Day of St Francis.
A Catholic missionary born in 1506 in Spain, St Francis Xavier was co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
The Holy Relic is the right forearm of St Francis and is normally housed in the mother church of the Jesuits in Rome. Rarely allowed to leave the church, the Jesuits agreed to lend the Holy Relic to Australia as part of the Year of Grace.
St Francis Xavier is known as one of the greatest missionaries of the 16th century, who ventured far East. Along with St Therese of Lisieux, he is the co-patron saint of Australia.
Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt
The Holy Relic visited Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt, on Tuesday 27 November.
As the Holy Family Parish is in the pastoral care of the Jesuits, the occasion held special significance for the community. The local Catholic schools are named for the order’s co-founders: Loyola Senior High at Rooty Hill and Xavier College at Llandilo.
News Story: Holy Relic of St Francis Xavier arrives in Diocese of Parramatta
Homily: Rev Fr Brendan Kelly SJ
Photo gallery
St Francis Xavier’s Church, Wentworth Falls
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| Photo: Virginia Knight |
The Holy Relic visited St Francis Xavier’s Church in Wentworth Falls on Wednesday 28 November.
Before arriving the Wentworth Falls Church for Mass and Veneration, the relic first visited Xavier College, Llandilo.
Photo gallery
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta
The Holy Relic visited St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish in Parramatta on Thursday 29 November.
An evening Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral with the Goan community – the saint’s remains are interred in the Jesuit church at Goa in India.
Homily: Rev Clifford D’souza MSFS
Photo Galleries
Holy Relic at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish in Parramatta
Holy Relic arrives at St Patrick’s Cathedral
News Index
St Francis Xavier Feast Day Mass @ xt3.com
Three parishes host relic of St Francis Xavier
(redirects to Catholic Outlook site)
Holy Relic of St Francis Xavier visit
(redirects to The Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard)
Parramatta Diocese program announced for St Francis Xavier Holy Relic visit
St Francis Xavier Relic to visit Parramatta Diocese
Relic of St Francis Xavier visits Notre Dame
Nine-day pilgrimage of prayer with St Francis Xavier
St Francis Xavier Novena of Grace
Holy relic of St Francis Xavier to visit Diocese of Parramatta
(redirects to Catholic Outlook site)
St Francis Xavier the great missionary
(redirects to Catholic Outlook site)
Xavier & the New Evangelisation
(redirects to Catholic Outlook site)
What’s so special about relics?
(redirects to Catholic Outlook site)
16th Century missionary St Francis Xavier's right arm visits Mt Druitt region
(redirects to The Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard)
Related Links
Sydney Archdiocese: Pilgrimage of Grace
Australian Jesuits and St Francis Xavier