We are grateful for Your gift of the true Faith brought to our shores by the Apostle, St. Patrick, over 1500 years ago. We see the coming of the Relics of St. Thérèse to Ireland as helping individuals, families and other groups, to grasp the life and teaching of this newest and youngest Doctor of the Universal Church and an opportunity to consider and renew our own journey in faith to God.

St. Thérèse promised to "let fall a shower of roses" and longed "to spend my heaven doing good on earth". May she inspire us to spend our earth doing good for heaven, reaching out to the sick, the lonely, the old, the poor, the weak and marginalised wherever they may be. May the new millennium be a time of true conversion for Ireland. Together with St. Thérèse may we walk "the Little Way" of "Spiritual Childhood" and learn to surrender ourselves unreservedly to the "Merciful Love of God - not fearing the future but trusting always in Your loving care through the intercession of Mary, who, to St. Thérèse was "more Mother than Queen".

Bring all your children home to heaven where You long to gather us together into Your eternal embrace.

In the Spirit of Love we ask You for all of this through Jesus Christ Your Son Our Lord.