FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELICS OF CHRIST'S PASSION TO TOUR US CITIES THIS LENT

Contact: Andrew Walther, Vice President, Apostolate for Holy Relics
Phone: (213) 210-5472
Email: andrewwalther@earthlink.net
Website: www.relictour.org
LOS ANGELES - Relics - venerated for centuries by the faithful for their association with Christ's passion - will be on rare display in Lent half a dozen American dioceses throughout during Lent (Feb. 9 - March 26) 2005..

Last Lent, tens of thousands of people came to view displays of the relics of Christ's Passion when they were shown for a few short days in St. Louis and Washington DC.
The relics include pieces of the cross, the shroud, the crown of thorns, the column where Jesus was scourged, replicas of the nails believed to have been used 2000 years ago to crucify Christ and various other relics associated with Christ's final days.
The tour of these relics is being organized by the Apostolate for Holy Relics (AHR) - a Los Angeles-based non profit organization under the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Apostolate also organized last year's displays in St. Louis and Washington DC.
The 2005 tour is scheduled to visit Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Milwaukee and Phoenix. The relics will conclude their journey during Holy Week in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

"For those who cannot visit the relic shrines in Rome, or the Holy Land itself, this is as close as many people will come to artifacts associated with the crucifixion," said Andrew Walther, AHR Vice President. "We hope that people will come away from viewing these relics with an increased faith and tangible, personal connection to Christ's loving sacrifice."
AHR President Thomas Serafin added his thanks to those who are hosting the events: "We are grateful to all those who have invited us to bring these relics to their people," he said. "We hope that many of the faithful in each diocese we visit will take the time to make a journey of faith to venerate these relics and relive for a moment, Jesus's ultimate sacrifice for them."