Saints & Relics Presentation: Sacred Hearts Academy, 8/18/2025

Today, this ministry had the joy and blessing of visiting Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu to conduct a presentation/relic exhibit for approximately 60 Sophomore students.  I've never been to this historic parochial school so I was excited to speak at a new venue - plus the gothic-style architecture in the chapel was beautiful, along with the campus.

As for the presentation, it turned out to be an enlightening experience for the students.  For example, before speaking about St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes to the girls, I first asked if any of them had ever heard of the French Saint and the Holy Grotto associated with her; not one participant raised a hand (and it wasn't because they were being shy)!  I was somewhat surprised by this because there's actually a huge replica of the Lourdes Grotto prominently located in their campus, as seen below ...

A replica of the Lourdes Grotto at the

Sacred Hearts Academy campus

And sure - not all of the students there are Catholic so those girls have a reason for not knowing about Lourdes, but I'm certain the majority are Catholic so it struck me that they've never been schooled about the spiritual significance behind their own grotto.

So I shared the story of St. Bernadette: her 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in the grotto; the discovery of the miraculous spring; her holy life as a nun; and her incorrupt body.  The facial expressions I scanned in the audience - both the students and their respective teachers - as I told the Saint's story and shared photos, shown with genuine interest and wide-eyed wonder - the same look was repeated over and over as the stories of several other holy individuals were narrated.

Relics on display for the students

In all, 11 relics were shared with the students, which included those belonging to St. Bernadette, Visionary of Lourdes; Bl. Carlo Acutis, Patron of Youth; St. Faustina Kowalska of Divine Mercy; St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Patroness of the Pro-Life Movement; Sts. Louis & Zelie Martin, Patrons of Families; St. Peregrine Laziosi, Patron of Cancer Patients; Bl. Pierina Morosini, Virgin & Martyr; Bl. Rolando Rivi, Martyr; St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower; and Our Lady's veil.

I often gauge the level of success of each presentation by the reaction of my audiences and by the feedback I receive after.  Today's talk seemed exceptionally successful because of what I saw reflected in the girls' faces and by their enthusiastic veneration of the relics present.  For sure, they all walked away knowing more than they did about our Saints ... and with greater appreciation for them, too - PRICELESS!

Students going up in small groups to view and

venerate the Saints and their respective relics.

All thanks and praises be to God!