The major first-class relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, including the relic of his skull, will be offered for public veneration on Dec. 7-8 at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave.
This is the first time that St. Thomas’ major relics will tour the United States through an arrangement between the Dominican Province of Toulouse, France and the Dominican Province of St. Joseph (Eastern USA). The relic tour is in commemoration of the Triple Jubilee of St. Thomas Aquinas: the 700th anniversary of his canonization in 2023, the 750th anniversary of his death in 2024 and the 800th anniversary of his birth in 2025.
Public veneration of the relics will begin in the church at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 with a procession of the relics to the sanctuary led by the Dominican friars. Public veneration will close at 10 p.m. and confessions will be available starting at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 8, public veneration will resume at 1:15 p.m. and will conclude at 9 p.m. Confessions will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Dominican friars will lead the celebration of Solemn Vespers at 7 p.m.
In honor of the Triple Jubilee of St. Thomas, individuals may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions for making a pilgrimage to a Dominican church until Jan. 28, 2025.
Free parking will be available in the parish parking lot and in adjacent lots at Columbus State Community College. There is no admission fee to venerate the relics; a free-will offering will be taken to help defray the cost of the relic tour.
St. Patrick Church, the second-oldest Catholic church in Columbus, was dedicated in 1853. The Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph have had the pastoral care of the parish since 1885.
For more information about the public veneration, contact Fr. Paul Marich, O.P., pastor, at frpaulmarich@stpatrickcolumbus.org or by phone at (614) 240-5917.