In honour of the relic of St Francis Xavier, St Francis Xavier Primary School in Hilbert celebrated a special children’s Mass to welcome the relic – the right forearm – into their parish and community on Friday, October 26.
The relic of St Francis arrived in Australia on September 16 and has been visiting dioceses around the country.
The staff and students of St Francis Xavier had been preparing for this moment since June, when they heard it would be visiting them as part of its Pilgrimage of Grace.
It was an occasion of great jubilation with Mass being celebrated by Bishop Donald Sproxton together with the St Francis Xavier parish priest, Father Kazimierz Stuglik, and Fr Richard Shortall, who has been travelling with the relic.
“It is a great privilege to have the relic in Perth and in Armadale,” Bishop Sproxton said.
Before Mass, students coloured ribbons and placed them around the relic which stood on the altar. The ribbons represented the various countries that have a strong tie or devotion to this remarkable Jesuit missionary, countries such as India, Spain, Portugal, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Japan and Indonesia.
Mass was a beautiful and warm occasion in which the students actively participated, taking part in the First Reading and Prayers of Intercession, while the St Francis Xavier choir received a round of applause at the end of Mass.
Fr Shortall captivated the congregation with stories about the missionary saint who was also a founding member of the Jesuits.
“St Francis survived a raging storm,” Fr Shortall said. “But he lost his crucifix in the sea.” For a moment the priest was silent, with his young congregation hanging on to his every word.
“After the storm, St Francis noticed a crab with a cross-shaped pattern on its upper shell and with the crucifix in its claws.”
“I saw it on Wikipedia so it must be true,” Fr Shortall said with a touch of humour to his tone.
After Mass, students from other Catholic schools who had been invited together, with teachers, parents, nuns and priests, all joined together for morning tea.
“We are very blessed to have people from other schools and parishes join us,” Stuart Munro, Assistant Principal of St Francis Xavier, told The Record.
“It has been fantastic and we love that the kids really enjoyed the experience.”
The children of St Francis all took part in a colouring competition where they drew St Francis Xavier; the pictures were on display during morning tea and received many admiring looks.