Over the years, St. Mark Church in Huntersville has assembled a large collection of relics. Dozens of the articles will be on display from Oct. 31 through Nov. 1. (Amy Burger | Catholic News Herald) HUNTERSVILLE — Where can you venerate relics from the apostles, Saint Longinus –the Roman centurion who speared Jesus on the cross, and modern saints including the visionaries of Fatima all in one place? While your first thought may be the Vatican, you can see these and many more much closer to home at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
Dozens of holy relics will be on exhibit at St. Mark Church as part of its annual All Saints Day Veneration of Relics, a tradition that began in 2021.
“While our secular world celebrates Halloween, the reason behind All Hallow’s Eve (All Saints Eve), All Saints Day and All Souls’ Day has become a bit lost,” said Amy Burger, public relations coordinator at St. Mark Church who organizes the event. “Our hope is that people will learn a little more about this treasure of our Catholic faith and remember those who have passed on before us and are canonized saints in heaven.”
Relics from an array of venerated saints will be showcased in the sanctuary from 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31 until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Many of the relics were part of an anonymous gift to the parish seven years ago while others have been gifted to the church over the years, Burger said.
Due to the nature of the display, there are many hands that work together to make it possible.
“We couldn’t offer a veneration of this scale without the vital help of the Knights of Columbus and their Ladies’ Auxiliary,” Burger said. “Each year they prepare, display, and faithfully guard the relics so they are never left unattended – and when it’s over, they carefully pack everything away again. Their service is truly a labor of love.”
Masses for the weekend are as follows: 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31, Ordinary Time Liturgy; 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, Vigil of All Saints, Spanish Mass with a bilingual homily; 9 a.m. Sat. Nov. 1: All Saints Day Mass with a saint procession from the Home School Ministry; 5 p.m. Nov. 1 Vigil of All Souls Day Mass; and at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Spanish) on
Sunday, Nov. 2, All Souls Day Masses.
The relic display is open to all who wish to come and pray. For more information, visit www.stmarknc.org.
— Catholic News Herald
