Saint’s relics to visit Mattapoisett church

MATTAPOISETT —  Relics of Portuguese-born Saint Anthony of Padua will visit Saint Anthony Church in Mattapoisett on Wednesday, August 28.

At the invitation of the pastor, Father John C. Ozug, Father Alessandro Ratti will bring the holy relics from the saint’s Basilica, Saint Anthony of Padua, in Padua, Italy.The reliquaries contain layers of skin of the saint’s cheek and a fragment of the saint’s floating rib. The reliquaries were venerated by Pope Francis, Saint Mother Teresa, Saint John Paul II and Servant of God, Sister Lucia of Fatima.

Tom Muscatello, North America Rep, will accompany Friar Alessandro during the 2019 Summer Holy Relics Tour which will include participation in the Centennial Saint Anthony Feast in the North End of Boston.

Father Alex, as he is known in English-speaking countries, is one of fifty-four Franciscan OFM Conventual Friars who minister in the Pontifical Basilica in Padua, where the saint is buried.

Prayer petitions with holy cards will be distributed in each parish to allow parishioners to write their prayer petition and intentions to the saint. Veneration is touching the reliquaries with the prayer petition and religious objects such as rosary beads, holy cards, or Holy Scripture, to name a few. Worshippers around the world complete prayer petitions at relic visits.

Father Alex will bring the petitions back to the Pontifical Basilica in Padua and place them at the tomb of Saint Anthony. The tour officially ends back at the Tomb of Saint Anthony where the Friars will gather to pray for the saint’s intercession upon the intentions and petitions. 

The church is located at 22 Barstow Street. Holy Mass will be at 8 a.m. Veneration of the relics will follow the mass until 1:30 p.m.