Ornate reliquaries in Roman Catholic churches throughout the world contain tiny fragments of bone, strands of hair, small bits of cloth or splinters of wood. These items are relics — physical items that remain after the deaths of saints or martyrs — that provide today’s faithful with tangible connections to those people. Tiny pieces of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s veil and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified also are considered relics.

For many years, the altars in Catholic churches were required to contain altar stones, typically inch-thick squares of marble containing relics of saints, according to Father Joseph Hart, who served for more than 15 years as vicar general for the Diocese of Rochester. After the Second Vatican Council, many churches were renovated so that their altars faced the congregation, and altars were no longer required to accommodate altar stones, Father Hart said. During the renovation of Sacred Heart Cathedral in the early 2000s, the base of its altar became the repository for altar stones that were no longer in use in other diocesan churches.

Yet most Catholic churches still contain relics, some of them still nestled inside altars. In other churches, relics are on display for public veneration and prayer. Using this digital “Rochester Relics Tour,” Catholics can create customized “relics pilgrimages” around the Diocese of Rochester. The map at right shows the location of the cathedral as well as diocesan churches that have relics on public display. A list of relics housed in each church may be found here, while a list of relics sorted by saint may be found here.

During Jubilee Year 2025, a Catholic who makes a pilgrimage to a designated jubilee site may be eligible for a plenary indulgence. Sacred Heart Cathedral is the Diocese of Rochester’s designated jubilee site, so Catholics whose “relics pilgrimages” include a stop at the cathedral may obtain plenary indulgences, provided that they meet other required conditions. Visit the Diocese of Rochester’s website for more information on how to receive an indulgence.

Episode five of the Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope podcast, Catholic Courier staff writers Jennifer Burke and Elena Cambio sit down with Managing Editor Jennifer Ficcaglia to go “behind the scenes” of the Courier’s new Relics Tour multimedia project. Learn more about what drew them to the project of mapping the relics at various churches of the Diocese of Rochester and how it all ties into the theme of this jubilee year. To view additional Catholic Courier podcasts visit https://www.youtube.com/@CatholicCourier