JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -The Catholics of South Africa recently received the travelling relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux .

The reliquary containing some of the mortal remains of the Patroness of the Missions  drew extraordinary crowds in England and Wales when 250,000 people venerated them during a tour in 2009. Organizers experienced the same response in South Africa.

Fr Vusi Sokhela, who initiated the visit a hopes that Saint Therese, a 19th century Carmelite nun, who died aged only 24 years "will be a role-model for the youth, especially, since we have no South African saints of our own. Maybe one day as a result of this visit the relics of a South African saint will tour France."

Sanctioned by the South African Bishops' Conference, the relics toured the dioceses of Tzaneen, Aliwal North, Queenstown, Kokstad, Umzumkulu, Mariannhill, Durban and Cape Town.