Presentation of a relic of St Thomas Becket from the Columban Fathers in ANZ to the Anglican Centre in Rome on June 13, 2017, by Fr Robert McCulloch, Procurator General of the Missionary Society of St Columban.
On behalf of Fr Gary Walker, the Director of the Missionary Society of St Columban in Australia New Zealand, I am very happy to present this relic of St Thomas Becket to the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Archbishop David Moxon, the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome (retired in June, 2017) told me, when we first met, that he has a long-standing close connection with the Columbans. In New Zealand before coming to Rome, every year he always bought a copy of the Columban Art Calendar.
Archbishop Moxon prepares to return to New Zealand on June 17. One Archbishop with Canterbury connections departs after four years in Rome; another Archbishop with Canterbury connections comes to Rome this evening from Australia and New Zealand… although, in the latter case, after a long intervening journey of 800 years.
This relic of St Thomas Becket has been in the ANZ Columban regional house in Melbourne for nearly 90 years. How it got there no one can explain. But when I saw it in the chapel last August I knew immediately that Becket was not happy there. I said to the Columban superior that his Becket would be happier in Rome with us. And here he is.
How our saints hold us together! Archbishop Moxon has often spoken of the common heritage that we have, as Anglicans and Roman Catholics, through our saints: St Gregory the Great, St Augustine of Canterbury, St Columban, St Bede, St Thomas Becket. They are part of the great list of exemplars in holiness from that time when we were one.
In a special way, I would like to thank Fr Anthony Robbie, who arranged with the offices in the Vatican for the
re-sealing and authentication of this relic of Becket.
This relic which has come from Canterbury, to Australia and now to Rome, is a holy reminder of St Thomas Becket, a great and courageous saint.
We have links to either Canterbury or Rome and, in many ways, to both. We are united in our history, in our tradition, and through our journey in faith.
Columban Fr Robert McCulloch resides in Rome as the Procurator General for St Columbans Mission Society.
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