St. Jude's arm is going on tour: Catholic church announces relic's first-ever tour of US

For the first time, the arm of St. Jude will leave Italy and tour churches, schools, prisons, and more across the United States beginning this month, a Catholic evangelization ministry announced this week.

The relic of one of Jesus' 12 apostles, considered to be the patron saint of hopeless or difficult causes, is scheduled to first stop at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago on Sept. 9 and be on tour until May 2024. Local news outlets and church organizers said thousands of visitors are expected during various stops along its nine-month tour.

In a press release on Monday, Treasures of the Church said the tour “offers a unique opportunity for devotees and the curious alike to experience a connection with one of the most venerated figures in Christian history,” Catholic News Agency reports.

“The apostle’s visit is an effort by the Catholic Church to give comfort and hope to all who need it,” Father Carlos Martins, the director of the ministry Treasures of the Church, told “EWTN News Nightly” host Tracy Sabol on Monday. “The visit provides an opportunity for individuals to experience intimacy with someone who dwells in heaven and beholds God face-to-face.”

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According to the release, Saint Jude’s arm was removed and placed in a wooden reliquary, then carved in the"shape of a priestly arm" several centuries ago to impart a blessing.

Where will the relic of St. Jude be on display?

The relic will be hosted in parishes, schools and prisons in numerous Catholic dioceses spanning most of the country, including Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Texas, and Oregon, and California.

The tour schedule will continually be expanded, according to the release.

What are relics in Catholicism?

Relics, which are usually broken down into three classes, are physical objects that have a direct association with Catholic saints or with the Lord, according to Treasures of the Church, and believers say that "God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: St. Jude relic to tour US Catholic churches first time outside Italy