Bishop Emeritus Enrico Del Covalo, former Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, visited Thrissur in December 2014 and participated as the chief guest in the Bon Natale organized by the Archdiocese of Thrissur. On that occasion, Rev. Enrico Del Covalo visited the Cherumkuzhy parish and addressed the catechism children of the parish. Rev. Vicar Fr. Domini Chazhoor described the devotion and faith to St. Joseph in Cherumkuzhy parish and expressed the desire of the parish people to receive the relics of St. Joseph.
For the parish of Cherumkuzhy, Father Enrico Del Covalo began efforts to obtain a very rare and miraculous icon of St. Joseph, the Spouse of Mary, from the Vatican. Cherumkuzhy parish was fortunate to receive an original icon image, prayerfully crafted according to the canons of ancient Byzantine icon art, in a famous monastery in Troyan, Bulgaria.
This very special, rare, and miraculous icon of St. Joseph, carrying the Infant Jesus in his hand, represents the very famous icon Theotokos, the Mother of God. This icon was specially blessed by Pope Francis, who authorized Father Enrico Del Covallo to present this icon to the St. Joseph Parish in Cherumkuzhy for the special purpose of veneration and devotion to St. Joseph.
The icon reached the Cherumkuzhy Center with an escort of several vehicles, and on the church grounds, Father Mar Thattil installed the icon. Those who have received God's blessings through the intercession of Saint Joseph testify to them on the ninth Wednesday celebration.
St. Joseph Church, Cherumkuzhy, has been blessed in a special way with the sacred presence of the relic of St. Antony, one of the most beloved saints of the Church. This precious relic, installed in the church for the veneration of the faithful, is a first-class relic, making it a profound spiritual treasure for the parish.
A first-class relic is a sacred item directly associated with the saint, such as a part of the saint’s mortal remains. The presence of the relic of St. Antony at St. Joseph Church invites believers to seek his intercession with renewed faith and confidence.
St. Antony of Padua is widely known as the saint of miracles and the patron invoked for lost things, family needs, and various personal intentions. The parish received this great blessing on December 6, 2014, when the relic of St. Antony was solemnly brought to the church and installed by Mar Raphael Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Thrissur.
The faithful now gather with devotion before the relic, especially during special prayers and novenas, seeking the powerful intercession of St. Antony. The relic stands today as a sign of God’s grace and a reminder of the saint’s enduring presence among the faithful.
