On Feb. 16, Msgr. Dentici Hall in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, was filled with tables bearing heavenly cargo: a matchless collection of holy relics.

Some, such as fragments of the Cross of Jesus and a remnant of the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are believed by the Church to have begun a journey at the dawn of Christianity.

Others, including pieces of bone, bits of hair and clothing, are recognized by the Church as having traveled through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and more modern times, before stopping in 21st century Monmouth County.

More than 400 faithful, from around Trenton and beyond, gathered in the Co-Cathedral for the “Treasures of the Church” exposition. There, they prayed among the relics which, on this night, numbered 165, said Companions of the Cross Father Carlos Martins, who created the exposition as part of a 25-year ministry of evangelization.

As one of the coordinators of the event, Gino Iacovella, a Co-Cathedral parishioner and Past Grand Knight of Columbus 1672, knew what he was about to see, but when he experienced the exhibition first-hand, he was “overwhelmed by the number of relics in one room.”

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“I have been to the Holy Land, Rome and shrines around the world in my lifetime and to see these relics in my hometown of Freehold, New Jersey, was one of the highlights of my Catholic faith of 63 years,” Iacovella said. 

During his presentation in the Co-Cathedral, Father Martins set the stage for the exposition, explaining the historic practice of venerating sacred relics, sharing Scriptural foundations from both the Old and New Testaments and stressing that Catholics pray to saints in order to ask them to intercede to God on their behalf. “Any good that comes about” as a result of prayer to the saints “is from God,” he emphasized.

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As the presentation drew to a close, guests moved to Dentici Hall for an opportunity to visit the saints’ relics, displayed in reliquaries set on 15 tables draped in blue. Included among them were those of Edith Stein(St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi and St. John Vianney.

Two tables draped in gold held rare and precious relics including those of the True Cross and Mary’s veil, and everyone was asked to linger no longer than 20 seconds at each.

Participants were also encouraged to touch religious items, photos of loved ones and holy cards brought from home to the relics. According to Church teaching, there are three classes of sacred relics. The first-class is a part of the saint’s body. The second-class is a piece of the saint’s clothing or something used by the saint. The third-class is an object which has been touched to a first-class relic.

Emotions were high as the crowd of all generations moved from table to table, with more than a few people moved to tears.

“I felt viewing the relics was a very spiritual experience,” said Tom O’Connor, a longtime St. Robert Bellarmine parishioner. “Witnessing the relic of the True Cross was very emotional and profound for me.”

A former State Trooper, O’Connor was also very moved to come across a rock from the site of an apparition where St. Michael the Archangel – known as the guardian of police – had appeared. “I touched it and put it to my Crucifix …a Celtic cross. It was my opportunity to witness and venerate it. It was a once in a lifetime event.”

In his remarks, Father Martins urged everyone to focus on making a connection to a saint who might be among the many holy men and women represented in the reliquaries “who is here trying to befriend you.”

Kristina Mueller took that advice to heart, and when the crowd thinned out, the St. Robert Bellarmine parishioner decided to take one more walk around the tables in search of her saint. Mueller, who brought many rosaries to touch to the relics, later said she remembered Msgr. Sam Sirianni, rector of the Co-Cathedral, “once preached that ‘everybody has a saint,’ and tonight, when Father Martins said, ‘find your saint,’ I decided to give it another try. And then I came across St. Christina and she was calling me. She was really calling me.”

“People needed this night,” Mueller said. “After all we’ve been through, people need the connection to pray, touch and see such sacredness.”

This kind of connection proved memorable for Ed Hudak, one of ten “brother Knights” who volunteered to lend a hand for the occasion, as he venerated the relic of Blessed Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. “I paused after a short prayer and received a strong feeling that he was very pleased with his Knights for a job well done,” said Hudak. “I have never felt prouder to be a Knight than I did at that moment.”

Reflecting on the evening, Msgr. Sirianni said the turnout of more than 400 prayerful and joyful people of all ages was “very rewarding. I think it went very well and from my observation, people were very focused on various saints and took their time to pray. It was a really nice devotional activity that will help people be closer to the Lord.”