JOSEFINA Lumapas prayed while she wiped three handkerchiefs on the reliquary of St. Therese at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph (NSSJ) in Mandaue City.

She then rubbed the handkerchiefs on her eyes, hoping that she can finally see more clearly.

Lumapas, 74, was just one of the hundreds of persons who gathered in NSSJ yesterday to ask for a miracle and to witness the fourth visit of the Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese in the Philippines.

St. Therese’s Pilgrim Relics visited the country in 2000, 2008, and 2013, and Cebu was also part of the itinerary.

Lumapas, a resident in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, arrived in the NSSJ at 6 a.m. to witness the arrival of the relic of St. Therese.

The reliquary, which contains a bone fragment from the saint, had come from Lisieux, France.

It was Lumapas’ second time to witness such a religious activity.

She learned abou the arrival of the relic after it was announced during a mass last Easter Sunday.

“Ni-decide ko (nga moanhi aron) maka-meet ko niya usab. Nagpasalamat ko nga buhi pa ko,” said Lumapas.

Several religious items were displayed outside church at that time.

Lumapas bought three handkerchiefs colored red, blue and green, which bear the name and photo of St. Therese.

When she got near to the reliquary, she rubbed these and later wiped these on her eyes.

Maria Theresa Heyrosa, 57, has been a devotee of St. Therese since she was young.

Heyrosa of Barangay Mantuyong has been suffering from a kidney-related ailment and has been undergoing dialysis since July 2017.

“Akong gipangayo nga maayo lang ta’g lawas. Makasugakod lang gyud ko aning dialysis (I asked for good health and for me to improve with the dialysis),” she said.

Her 62-yer-old cousin, Henry Heyrosa, who is a medical responder of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, said he always has an unusual feeling whenever he assists in any religious activity.

Henry hopes that St. Therese will shower him with blessings.

After the mass in NSSJ, St. Therese’s relic was transferred to the Central Command in Lahug, Cebu City.