Relic of Jesuit missionary draws faithful crowds

01 Nov 2012

By The Record

Thousands of people flocked to churches across Perth as the right arm of St Francis Xavier, founding Jesuit and 16th century missionary extraordinaire, visited parishes across the archdiocese as part of the celebration of the Year of Grace.

Accompanying the relic was Father Richard Shortall, a Jesuit priest from New Zealand, who said it was an honour to be travelling with it.

He told The Record it was the first time he has travelled with the relic of St Francis, a saint who is special to him as they both come from the same order.

“St Francis is a fellow Jesuit, a brother and companion,” Fr Shortall said.

“The Provincial who is the head of the Jesuit Order asked me to go with the relic. I was quite surprised and delighted to be asked.”

In Perth, his travels with the relic took him to St Francis Xavier Parish in Hilbert, Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Nedlands, St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth and the Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth before heading off to the Diocese of Geraldton.

Together with Bishop Donald Sproxton and Hilbert parish priest Fr Kazimierz Stuglik, Fr Shortall concelebrated a children’s Mass at Hilbert in honour of the relic’s visit (see story, Page 7).

“Watching people of all ages, the old and the young, come and pray to St Francis was incredible,” Karen Hart, the co-ordinator for the relic’s visit to Perth told The Record.

She said she had received a call from Bishop Sproxton in June who asked her to become the co-ordinator for the relic’s visit.

She had never done anything like this before; after accepting Bishop Sproxton’s offer, Mrs Hart immediately began researching the saint; in so doing, she embarked on her own journey.

“The Year of Grace is about being Christ-centred and St Francis was about that,” Mrs Hart said. “It was remarkable to have Christ touching Australia.

Throughout the tour, opportunities for veneration of the 406-year-old relic have been a big part of the program, allowing the devoted an opportunity to get close and personal with St Francis who was known for his kindness as well as the struggles that he faced as he brought Christ to the East.

“People can relate to the struggles he has faced,” Ms Hart said.

People of all ages seemed to feel a connection with the saint and the story of his life, especially the students of St Francis Xavier Primary School.

Fr Shortall spoke to them about St Francis as a young man, relating the great missionary works of Xavier as well as allowing the children to connect with him.

“He could hunt and fish,” he said about St Francis.

“He could also ride and fence – there was no cricket, footy, Fremantle Dockers and netball.”

This announcement was greeted by laughter and more amusement followed Fr Shortall’s second comment about St Francis and his love for sport.

“If he was around today, Hawthorn would probably pick him for their team,” he said.

The relic, which visited several Perth parishes including St Mary’s Cathedral, was displayed in a reliquary, a large wooden cabinet made of Australian timbers with a glassed-in front.

Four hundred years after his death, St Francis still continues to bring Christ into people’s lives – even if it is somewhat unexpectedly when the relic has its own seat on an aeroplane.

“I was on a Qantas flight from Adelaide to Perth and I had the relic sitting right next to me,” Fr SHortall said.

“Some people wondered what it was, but the flight crew and cabin crew knew what it was and they were thrilled,” Fr Shortall said.

It may be easy to dismiss the relic of the remarkable Jesuit missionary as merely a hand – or even to think of it as something grotesque but, after listening to Fr Shortall, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind just how wonderful it was to have the relic of St Francis visit parishes throughout the country.

“In some very special way, in the moment of death, the Hand of God has come down and touched St Francis, preserving his body,” Fr Shortall told his listeners.

“When we touch the relic there is a special connection between God and us.” our lives through the relic.”

St Xavier, the former Patron Saint of Australia, holds a special place in the heart of the Catholic faithful and wider Christian Church in Australia.

Throughout the tour, opportunities for veneration of the 406-year-old relic have been a big part of the program, allowing the devoted an opportunity to get close and personal with St Francis who was known for his kindness as well as the struggles that he faced as he brought Christ to the East.

“People can relate to the struggles he has faced,” Ms Hart said.

People of all ages seemed to feel a connection with the saint and the story of his life, especially the students of St Francis Xavier Primary School.

Fr Shortall spoke to them about St Francis as a young man, relating the great missionary works of Xavier as well as allowing the children to connect with him.

“He could hunt and fish,” he said about St Francis.

“He could also ride and fence – there was no cricket, footy, Fremantle Dockers and netball.”

This announcement was greeted by laughter and more amusement followed Fr Shortall’s second comment about St Francis and his love for sport.

“If he was around today, Hawthorn would probably pick him for their team,” he said.

The relic, which visited several Perth parishes including St Mary’s Cathedral, was displayed in a reliquary, a large wooden cabinet made of Australian timbers with a glassed-in front.

Four hundred years after his death, St Francis still continues to bring Christ into people’s lives – even if it is somewhat unexpectedly when the relic has its own seat on an aeroplane.

“I was on a Qantas flight from Adelaide to Perth and I had the relic sitting right next to me,” Fr SHortall said.

“Some people wondered what it was, but the flight crew and cabin crew knew what it was and they were thrilled,” Fr Shortall said.

It may be easy to dismiss the relic of the remarkable Jesuit missionary as merely a hand – or even to think of it as something grotesque but, after listening to Fr Shortall, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind just how wonderful it was to have the relic of St Francis visit parishes throughout the country.

“In some very special way, in the moment of death, the Hand of God has come down and touched St Francis, preserving his body,” Fr Shortall told his listeners.

“When we touch the relic there is a special connection between God and us.”