Don Bosco’s relic to arrive in Shirva on August 25, 2011

By Fr. Maxim D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Shirva, 20 August 2011: The worldwide pilgrim relics of St John Bosco, the nineteenth century Italian priest and educator popularly known as ‘Don Bosco’, will arrive at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva near Udupi on  August 25, 2011 at 9.00 am.  This pilgrimage that began on  January 31, 2009 from Italy, is to mark the 150th anniversary of the Saleisan Order he founded.  The relic will travel across 130 countries in 5 continents where the Salesians of Don Bosco run some of the best educational institutions.   It is also seen as a preparation for the celebration of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth in 2015, when the relic will complete its world pilgrimage.

 

 

The relic comprising of the bones and tissues of Don Bosco’s right hand have been placed within a wax replica of Don Bosco’s body, which in turn is enclosed in a large urn.  It began its journey in India on April 29, 2011 from Imphal and it has arrived in the Konkan Province of the Salesians on August 17, 2011.

 

From Goa, the relic will travel to Sirsi in Karnataka and then arrive at Shirva at 9.00 am on Thursday, 25, 2011.  It will be solemnly received by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza, who will also preside over the Eucharist for the Youth at 11.00 am.  Sessions of Don Bosco’s life and teachings will be held for the youth and parish leaders in the afternoon.  There will be another Mass for the faithful at 4.00 pm presided over by the Vicar General, Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu.  The devotees will have the opportunity to venerate the relic till 6.00 pm.  From Shirva it will proceed to Bangalore on  August 26, 2011.

 

 

Don Bosco established two religious orders, the Salesian Order of priests and brothers and the Salesian Order of nuns. He also set up two lay movements, the Salesian Co-workers and the Don Bosco Alumni Associations.  Members of the Salesian men’s and women’s orders worldwide number around 30,000. There are about 4,000 of them in India working in 350 primary, secondary, technical and higher educational institutions.