Representatives of the Utah Knights of Columbus have tried for 20 years to arrange a viewing of the relics of six Catholic priests killed during Mexico’s Cristeros War, a crackdown by the Mexican government on religion in the 1920s.
“They very, very rarely come out. You’ve got to get approval from the Vatican,” said Frank Carmona, state deputy of the Catholic fraternal service organization.
The patience and efforts have paid off, and the Mexican Martyrs Relics are coming to Utah from Mexico and will be on display on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in West Jordan. Carmona expects the relics, otherwise housed at the Sanctuary of the Martyrs of Christ the King in Guadalajara, Mexico, to draw “thousands” of visitors to Utah.
“I’m really excited to have them here because my great-great-grandfather fought in this war, this Christian war against the Mexican government,” Carmona said. His great-great-grandfather took part in the conflict in the Mexican state of Durango.
The relics — bone chips from the six priests — are embedded in an ornate cross that’s about 3 feet high, the centerpiece of the display to be shown at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. In tandem with the display, open to the public, church officials plan masses, prayer services, venerations, celebrations and more.
“The sacrifice of the martyrs is not just history — it is a living witness of faith that inspires us to defend religious liberty and live with courage today,” Carmona said.
Mexico’s Cristeros War, the uprising by Catholics in Mexico against moves by the government of the time to essentially prohibit religion and religious expression in the nation, went from 1926 to 1929. Among the many killed in the conflict were six priests who were part of the Knights of Columbus; the priests remembered in the display came to Utah.
“They had to hold religious services underground in caves. The government completely did away with religion and freedom of religion. They were killing priests like these,” he said. Priests and others who defied the religious ban, he said, could face public execution.
The relics of the Mexican Martyrs have been on display in Idaho. After Utah, they’re to be transported to California and then Texas for display. “We’re inviting everybody to come. This is something that rarely comes out of the shrine, and it’s something that’s very, very rare,” Carmona said.
Hours of activities are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday; 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church is located at 7405 S. Redwood Road in West Jordan.