Thousands venerate relic of St. Jude during Wichita stop

Thousands of the faithful didn’t have to travel to Italy to venerate a relic of St. Jude – the relic came to them.

A first-class relic of St. Jude visited three churches in Wichita earlier this month. A reliquary with a bone from the arm of St. Jude was at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on Saturday, Nov. 2; St. Jude Church on Sunday, Nov. 3, and Church of the Magdalen on Monday, Nov. 4.

Holly Beard, the Parish Life coordinator at Church of the Magdalen, said they were surprised by the request about a month ago to host the relic.

“We jumped at the opportunity,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect but I was in awe at the amount of people who showed up.”

People told her they were grateful for the opportunity to venerate the relic. “We were grateful to provide it. I felt like it was a privilege to be able to do this for the community and our parishioners.”

She wasn’t alone, though. Nearly 60 volunteers assisted in the event that included setting up tables of rosaries, medals, scapulars, and other items. Signs were set up. Pilgrims were directed to enter on the north side of the church, visit the relic in the middle of the church, and exit on the south side.

The relic’s next stop was Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Topeka.

Fr. Carlos Martins, the director of Treasures of the Church, said the relic’s visit presents a unique opportunity for individuals to forge a connection with a deeply revered figure in Christian history. “St. Jude, often considered the patron saint of lost causes and desperate situations, holds a special place in the hearts of many believers.”

Fr. Martins said the relic’s presence allows devotees to experience intimacy with someone who resides in heaven and stands before God, enabling them to receive blessings and entrust their petitions.

St. Jude, identified as the Lord’s first cousin, was one of Christ’s Twelve Apostles. He is believed to have been martyred in Beirut several decades after the death and resurrection of Christ. Centuries later, his body was transferred to a tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica. The relic on tour, his arm, is preserved in a reliquary shaped like a priest’s hand giving a blessing.

Treasures of the Church emphasized that the veneration of relics is not an act of worship but a way to honor the saints and seek their intercession through prayers, recognizing their proximity to God.
The relic’s U.S. tour began on Sept. 9. It is the first time the relic has left Italy.