St. John Paul II relic to visit Houston in late September

Sisters with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary take a photo with a relic of St. John Paul II, a reliquary with his blood, in 2017 at the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston. The relic will visit five parishes and three Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, offering Catholics a chance to view and venerate the relic of the Polish pontiff. HOUSTON (CNS) — A collaboration between the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the Scanlan Foundation and the St. Serra Apostolate for Vocations of North Houston will bring the relic of the blood of St. John Paul II to five parishes and three Catholic schools in the Archdiocese from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28.

Miraculously, the blood is still liquid, and the first-class relic is displayed in a reliquary inspired by the book of Gospels that was on the Polish saint’s casket. This relic last came to Houston in 2017. 

When the pope died April 2, 2005, crowds in St. Peter’s Square chanted “santo subito” (“sainthood now”). The Vatican heard, and the sainthood cause for the jet-setting pontiff who helped bring down European communism was put on the fast track; he was beatified in 2011. A Pole and former actor shaped by World War II and the Cold War, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla of Krakow was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. In his 26-year pontificate, he evangelized on trips to 129 countries, upheld traditional Church doctrine against dissent, connected with the world’s youth, and named more than 450 new saints.

He also modeled Christian values by forgiving his would-be assassin and living an increasingly frail old age in public. He was canonized in 2014.

Organizers have encouraged visitors to arrive early as attendance may be unpredictable, and lines may close early to ensure that those in line venerate the relic. The relic encounters at the Catholic schools are not open to the public. 

For more information, contact the St. Serra Apostolate for Vocations of North Houston at [email protected] or visit the website.

Relic tour schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 25
St. John Vianney - 281-497-1500
625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston 
Veneration from 2 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26
Ascension Chinese Mission - 281-575-8855
4605 Jetty Ln., Houston
Veneration from 2 to 8 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 27
Christ the Good Shepherd - 281-376-6831
18511 Klein Church Rd., Spring 
Veneration from 2 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28
St. Matthias the Apostle - 281-356-2000
302 S. Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia 
Veneration from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28
Holy Family - 281-499-9688
1510 5th St., Missouri City
Veneration from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. and veneration resuming after Mass until 9:30 p.m.