Don Bosco's Relic to Arrive in Shirva on August 25

Fr Maxim D'Souza

Udupi, Aug 20: The pilgrim relic of St John Bosco, the 19th century Italian priest and educator popularly known as 'Don Bosco', will arrive at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva near Udupi on Thursday August 25 at 9 am.

The 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 from Imphal and arrived in the Konkan Province of the Salesians on August 17.

From Goa, the relic will travel to Sirsi in Karnataka and then arrive at Shirva on August 25 at 9 am. It will be solemnly received by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, who will also preside over the Eucharist for Youth at 11 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 pm presided over by the Vicar General, Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu. The devotees will have the opportunity to venerate the relic till 6 pm. From Shirva it will proceed to Bangalore on Friday August 26.

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.