St. Jean Vianney Relic Pilgrimage

Knights of Columbus preparing nationwide tour of Curé of Ars Heart

The shrine of Ars, France, has entrusted to the Knights of Columbus the major relic of St. Jean Vianney’s incorrupt heart for a national tour in the U.S., from November 2018 through May 2019.

The relic was brought to the 136th Supreme Convention in Baltimore by Father Patrice Chocholski, rector of the shrine of Ars, where it was solemnly processed by Knights from France and presented for veneration after the annual Memorial Mass Aug. 9. In his homily, Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori asked, “What about the saints whose relics we venerate this morning — what could be said of their lives? … St. John Vianney, we would say, had a priestly heart and revived a dying parish by the sheer force of his holiness and integrity.”

During the present moment of great trial for the Catholic Church in the United States, the Knights of Columbus welcomes as providential this special opportunity to offer for veneration a major relic of the patron of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity is a model for clergy and laity alike.

Plans for the pilgrimage are underway; further information including its schedule will be made available in the upcoming weeks.

For questions, please email vianney@kofc.org.