LARGE CROWD TURNS OUT TO VIEW REMAINS OF ST. MARIA GORETTI

PHILADELPHIA >> Hundreds of people made the trek to view the skeletal remains of the youngest canonized saint in the Catholic church, St. Maria Goretti, which made a stop at Saint Rita of Cascia Wednesday as part of a 25 stop tour of devotion across America.

This is the second time her remains have ever left Italy, according to Father Carlos Martins, a priest from the Companions of the Cross in Canada who organized the Pilgrimage of Mercy: the Tour of the Major Relics of St. Maria Goretti. The Pilgrimage tour made a stop in Philadelphia to coincide with the World Meeting of Families and St. Rita’s was only one of 25 Catholic Dioceses in 16 states in the country to host the relics.

To have such a unique honor stop at the church meant the world to parishioner Janet Glendening, who graduated from St. Maria Goretti High School and has long loved the story of the saint. Even though she is a member of nearby St. Nicholas, she often attends services at St. Rita’s and said it was wonderful to see all the people come out to the church for this special occasion.

“It’s so special to me to have her here,” she said. “I know her story and she was just so much like Christ. She was attacked and forgave. It’s a miracle to be able to see this.”

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