A Special Gift: Servite Receives Relics

Last year, after Term Four ended, a group of Servite Staff went to Italy to learn more about the Servite Story and to walk in the footsteps of the Seven Holy Founders and other Servites who came after them. 

At their last stop in Rome, the group met with some Servite Friars who gave them a very special gift. The Friars presented the Staff with some relics of Servite Saints to bring back to the College to have in our new Chapel, which is part of the College’s Masterplan to build in the future. It is a very rare occurrence for relics to be handed over to lay people, however the Friars wanted our Servite Community to have these relics especially to inspire the students of Servite and to connect them further with the Servite story. 

Relics are something belong to a Saint, perhaps something that they have worn or used, It could also be a physical part of the Saint, such as a piece of bone, hair or fingernail, and these are known as First Class Relics. Relics are an important part of Catholic belief as they are physical reminders of a significant person who lived life well, serving God, and who is now in heaven. We can look to these Saints as role models for living a Chrisitan life and experiencing the graces of God, as the Saints did. 

One of the relics gifted to the College is a First Class Relic of St Juliana. Therefore, on the Feast of St Juliana this term, we announced to the College at our Feast Day Mass, that the Servite Friars in Rome had given us a First Class Relic of St Juliana to have at our College. Mrs Vicoli carried in the relic during the entrance procession and the significance of a relic was explained to the community. 

After the Mass, the relic was carefully and reverently displayed for the students and staff of the College to come by, have a look and say a prayer. The students were very reverent and curious, asking many questions about the relic of St Juliana and relics in general. Many students were amazed that the College had received such a gift.  

As a College we feel very grateful and humbled by the gift of the relics, and in particular to have a part of St Juliana, one of our Patron Saints, with us at Servite.