ST. MARIA GORETTI IN AMERICA

ST. MARIA GORETTI IN AMERICA

NEWS FROM ST. JOHN CANTIUS CHURCH FOR CHICAGOANS, VISITORS TO CHICAGO AND ALL WHO LIVE NEAR THE WINDY CITY:

The body of Saint Maria Goretti, youngest canonized saint in the Catholic Church, arrives in Chicago Monday morning for an historic visit. At approx. 5:45 am, an extraordinary motorcade involving the Chicago Police Dept. and Illinois State Police will meet the saint’s convoy at the Illinois/Indiana border and escort her into the City of Chicago to Saint John Cantius Church (825 N. Carpenter St).

Arrival of motorcade and convoy for St. Maria Goretti is scheduled for 6:30am. Arrival will be followed by a short welcoming ceremony on the steps of the church. Live-broadcast media personnel and photojournalists are welcome for this visually powerful event.

QUICK FACTS:

—The sacred remains of Saint Maria Goretti will be available to the public at Saint John Cantius Church for 24 hours. We anticipate that at least 8,000 and as many as 20,000 people may come through our doors.

—US Dept. of Homeland Security has assigned 6 federal agents to safeguard her body, while the Chicago Police Formal Honor Guard will be present at her casket from 5:30 until 7:30pm.

—According to Rev. Carlos Martins, the national coordinator of the tour, St. Maria Goretti is considered a “deputy head of state of the Vatican” and is sent as a special envoy by Pope Francis for the Year of Mercy.

—This is the first time her sacred remains travel to the USA with the special permission of the Vatican.

—Religious and civic officials are anticipated to be in attendance. Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Most Rev. Joseph Perry will be celebrating a Solemn Mass that evening at 7:30pm.

(JFL: For more information on St. Maria, the Saint of mercy, and the pilgrimage of her remains to the U.S., click here: http://mariagoretti.com/)