by MaryGraham

mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk

Around 25,000 visitors are expected to flock to Aylesford in just a few weeks for what is being billed as one of the most important events for the British Catholic church.

The relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux arrive at The Friars, Aylesford, next month.

Millions have turned out to pray beside her during worldwide tours and this is the first time they have gone display in Britain.

They arrived at Portsmouth Cathedral last week attracting arund 5,000 people.

The Carmelite friary in Aylesford will have St Therese’s relics from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11 and 25,000 visitors are expected.

On the Saturday, the relics will be display throughout the night.

A mass on Saturday will be taken by Rev Kevin McDonald, Archbishop of Southwark.

Father Joseph Chalmers said: "We are, of course, up to our necks in preparations, but this is a very exciting thing for The Friars.

"We don’t know exact numbers so we are having to take a guess and we will have a large staff in place, manning the tea rooms and kitchens and we have briefed them so they know what to expect.

"St Therese will be placed in the relic chapel and will move to the main shrine during services. We know there will be a lot of people waiting to have a moment beside her, and some may have to wait some time, but these things are usually very peaceful and calm."

Barry Hudd, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, said: "We kept the church open during the night and there were never less than 200 people at a time queuing, with some waiting up to two hours.

"We did not put in place any extra security as the Cathedral is well served by two large public car parks."

Born in 1873, St Therese entered the Carmelite convent of Lisieux at a young age. Her spiritual teaching, known as The Little Way, advocated simple, everyday responses to life and people’s relationships with God.

She died in 1897 and her canonisation (the declaration that she is a saint) followed in 1925.

Fr Chalmers added: "Just being able to get near to St Therese seems to have a comforting effect on people and people talk about being in her "presence."

"She is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic church - most churches have statues of her and her popularity has spread to other faiths, possibly because her faith was not about grand gestures, it was about doing your best with what you have got."

He also revealed that the relics have already stopped off at The Friars, en route to Portsmouth, but the visit had to be shrouded in secrecy.

A full itinerary of St Therese’s visit to The Friars is available at thefriars.org.uk