In love with the Little Way and saintly humility

Sydney
14 April 2002

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In love with the Little Way and saintly humility

Chridessa O’Hagan (front left) and friends from the Lewisham parish youth group

By Marilyn Kerjean

Chridessa O’Hagan, 24, was not among the millions who went to see St Thérèse’s reliquary on its way through Ireland, her homeland, last year.

“Now I’m so overwhelmed that she’s here in Sydney at the same time I’m here and I can come today,” she said at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday.

“I’m just in love with St Thérèse’s Little Way, and her humility,” she said. “She said she would spend her time in heaven doing good on earth; it’s true.”

Chridessa, who believes the saint has helped her and her family, was one of many 20 and 30-somethings who made up the crowd of thousands to see the relics.

Waleed Younan, 29, a lawyer, went out of curiosity after reading about the relics’ arrival to large crowds in Perth and Bunbury.

While he waited for Mass to begin he read about the saint’s life in the Mass booklet.

“I find it powerful and inspiring,” he said, clutching the red rose, Thérèse’s emblem, he had just collected to take home.

“And it’s good to be part of a gathering like this – to be Catholic on a day like this – it connects us to the wider community and Church.”

Martha and Michael Cross got their young family up very early to make the drive from Narrabeen to greet the relics. Eldest daughter Simonne, 12, likes St Thérèse’s poetry.

Her mum loves the saint’s simplicity and the way she “always went straight to God”.

Caroline Vassarotti, 29, a librarian, who waited patiently inside the door of the cathedral – the closest she could get because of the crush – only recently read about St Thérèse.

“I’m inspired by her message of doing little things in life – I think we can all adhere to that. I think she’s a good model for young people especially ... young people make a difference.”

Lucy Limbers, 30, (pictured left) read Story of a Soul “years ago” and was drawn to the saint’s childlike relationship with God: “Coming today gives us the opportunity to ask her to pray for that grace and childlike faith, and ... to share our faith in God.”