The following comes from a January 1 Simi Valley Acorn article by Hector Gonzalez:

Catholics in Ventura County and around Southern California will be celebrating next month when one of the church’s most venerated relics makes a visit to St. Rose of Lima in Simi Valley for three days of healing masses.

It will be the first time the arm of St. Jude, which is normally kept in the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus in Chicago, is displayed on the West Coast, according to the Father Joseph Shea of St. Rose of Lima.

“It’s never traveled this far west,” he said.

Accompanying the relic will be the Father Michail Forde of the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, who will lead the special masses at the church at 1305 Royal Ave. The services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 11 to 13.

On Jan. 13, the St. Jude Blessing Mass will take place at the Simi Valley church, Shea said.

Known as the saint of the impossible, St. Jude, who was also called Thaddeus, was a brother of St. James the Less and a relative of Jesus, according to Catholic tradition.

“We’re inviting everyone, but especially people who are ill or facing difficulties,” Father Shea said.

For more information about the St. Jude relic event, call St. Rose of Lima Church at (805) 526-1732 or visit the-shrine.org.