Courtney McGrailThe relic of the saint who was martyred to save the life of another prisoner at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland will be in Ireland for the first time in October.
The relic of St Maximilian Kolbe will be present at the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fairview, Dublin on October 1 and 2. “The relic is probably a hair follicle because everything belonging to the saint was destroyed in the fires at Auschwitz,” Fairview parish priest, Fr Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv told The Irish Catholic. “It was most probably preserved by a brother who cut his hair who realised Brother Maximilian was ‘something different’.”
The visit occurs on the 75th anniversary of the saints martyrdom in 1941. Among special events marking the visit will be a healing service at 3pm on October 2 beseeching St Maximilian to intercede for those who are imprisoned by addictions.