Saint’s relics venerated at local church
St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Dunbar received a rare honor when the sacred relics of St. Margaret Mary Alcoque were venerated there on Monday. “It was all in God’s plan,’ smiled the Rev. Edward McCullough, pastor of St. Aloysius.
This is the first time the relics of the 17th century French saint, who promoted a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, have visited the United States.
That’s according to Antonia Holstein of Denmark and Oliver Noel of Belgium, who accompanied the relics on a visit to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, where the relics are being received in a number of parishes.
Holstein and Noel are members of the Emmanuel Community, which is centered in Paray-le-Monial, France, where the relics of St. Margaret Mary are normally kept. The Emmanuel Community is established in 43 countries. Holstein said Emmanuel has a community in New York.
“This is only the third time the relics have traveled abroad,’ she said. “In 2000, they were in Africa and before that, they were in Belfast, Ireland.’
The relics were brought to the United States in preparation for World Youth Day, which is being celebrated in Toronto and includes an appearance by Pope John Paul II. Angela Burrows, executive director of media information for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, that 49 youths and young adults from the diocese are participating in World Youth Day.
Three are from Fayette County, including Matthew Dowling of Uniontown, and Steven Krzanowski and Ann Merendino, both of Connellsville.
Members of the Emmanuel Community also co-sponsored an international youth forum at St. Vincent Archabbey and College in Latrobe, July 18-22.
St. Aloysius celebrated a Mass and a veneration of the relics of St. Margaret Mary on Monday evening.
“It was wonderful,’ said Rev. McCullough. “We had a full house. People from the whole region were there.’
Tuesday morning, the relics remained in the sanctuary of St. Aloysius until they were transported to their next destination.
They were housed in a bronze and glass relicary, placed on top of a table in the sanctuary. Noel explained the relics are kept under a cushion. A gold rose rests on top of the cushion, a gift from an American woman. Paintings of St. Margaret Mary rested near the relicary. An arrangement of pink and red roses was placed behind it.
St. Margaret Mary was born in the village of Verosvres in Burgundy on July 22, 1647.
She devoted herself to Jesus at an early age. She became a nun on Nov. 6, 1672, in the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary at a convent at Paray-le-Monial, and promoted a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
She died on Oct. 17, 1690, and was canonized in 1920.
Rev. McCullough said, “One of the great treasures of the Church is the veneration of saints.’