Former Manila street kids ‘awed’ by St. Thérèse’s relics

QUEZON City – Greeting the relics of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus with an “impressive silence,” children and young people from the metro’s depressed areas got a chance on Saturday to deepen their devotion to the young saint also known as the “Little Flower.”

“The kids were really looking forward to welcoming St. Thérèse and her arrival was particularly remarkable as an impressive silence reigned. Even the toddlers remained very quiet and meditative during the Mass. Most of them were impressed by the relics and being able to touch the reliquary was a striking moment for them,” said Grégoire Méteyer, TNK partnerships coordinator, in an interview with CBCPNews.

Some 300 former street children and 50 kids from the metro’s slum areas celebrated a Mass presided over by TNK executive director Fr. Matthieu Dauchez at the TNK main office in this city. Afterwards, they approached the reliquary and touched it, “forming a meditative and joyful procession,” he shared.

According to Méteyer, the visit also had a funny side as some kids were wondering why “there were only the bones of St Therese and not the rest!”

He shared he believes the French saint will intercede for the needs of TNK’s “daily mission.”

“More specifically, I asked her to open the hearts of our youth to let them receive the amazing faith she showed during her life. I am quite convinced that even a little part of that faith would be a huge support for all the kids to bring love in their existence and restore their hope in the future,” said Méteyer.

ANAK-TNK has been helping care for street children, slum-dwellers, scavengers and disabled children of Manila since 1998.

For those interested to donate or assist the foundation, more information is available on their FB page. CBCPNews