By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-06 19:21:35 | Updated at 2024-11-06 22:40:15
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Sweetest Heart of Mary Church in Detroit welcomed parishioners and visitors November 3 for a unique day of devotion. The parish displayed 81 of its treasured relics, including those of the True Cross, Mary’s Veil, the Holy Manger, and the Flagellation Pillar.
Detroit Catholic reported that the church holds a collection of 125 relics, which were discovered in 2012 in a surprising location — old cigar boxes stored in the rectory.
The event, known as “A Day with the Saints,” invited the faithful to venerate the sacred objects and draw closer to the saints through physical connection and prayer.
The event began with a Mass by Father Greg Tokarski. In his homily, Fr. Tokarski highlighted the significance of relics as “links between us here on earth and the saints in heaven.” Following Mass, he incensed each relic, which was carefully arranged for veneration within the pews according to the saints’ feast days.
The relics included first-class relics — physical remains of saints, such as bones — and second- and third-class relics, which are items touched by the saints or other relics. These were displayed alongside information cards detailing each saint’s life, feast day, and patronage.
Patricia Stephanoff, caretaker of the relics, explained that parishioners come to venerate the relics as they seek a connection to the Church Triumphant.
“We know when we die we are going to go somewhere; we want to go to heaven, but to get there, we have all these holy saints, and Mary, the queen of saints, that we can ask prayers (from),” Stephanoff told Detroit Catholic.
After the relics were discovered in 2012, parishioner Zachery Cebulski was inspired to create a custom reliquary cabinet for his Eagle Scout project, where the relics are now stored. Relics corresponding to the saints’ feast days are displayed each month, allowing for regular opportunities for public veneration.
Cebulski’s father, Rodger, shared with Detroit Catholic the impact of his son’s project on the parish community, noting that it’s a big spiritual help to people.
“As a father, to see people going to the reliquary that he built at every Mass, it’s extremely powerful,” he continued, adding that in Zachery’s job as a sign-language interpreter. “He is helping communicate, just like how this display helps people communicate with the saints.”
