MADISON, Wis. — Catholic faithfuls in Madison had an up-close opportunity to pray over a rare relic on Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • The arm bone of St. Jude the Apostle was on display at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church

  • Madison was one of the first stops on a tour of 200 sites

  • More than 60 volunteers helped run the event

The bone fragments from an arm of St. Jude the Apostle were brought to the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church.

This is one of the first stops on a tour of 200 sites across the country. 

Father Carlos Martins runs this Vatican pilgrimage and said there was a logistical reason Wisconsin’s visit was at the top of his list.

“Why at the beginning? Well, I want to take care of the north before the winter hits. And then when the winter hits, I won’t be anywhere near the north,” he said. “I’ll be in the south.”

Director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry Lorianne Aubut said this was especially meaningful for the Latinx community, as the event coincided with the eve of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“This is God’s timing, it’s God’s timing,” she said. “They’re coming here to look at the bone of a friend of Jesus […] with a deep-rooted devotion and so I’m just so grateful that I got the chance to do this.”

The relic is enshrined in a 300-pound display and the entire exhibit weighs 2,500 pounds. More than 60 volunteers helped run the event that thousands were expected to attend.

Learn more about St. Jude and the visit at https://madisondiocese.org/stjude.