Don Bosco's Relic to Visit in Montreal, Canada

The relic of Don Bosco will visit the parish of Marie Auxiliatrice in Montreal, Canada on October 7.

To contact the parish for more detailed information please call 514-648-9424.

The Relic of Don Bosco to Visit Toronto, Canada

In the tradition of pilgrimage, the relics of St. John Bosco are being carried into the towns and villages, neighborhoods and centers where the Gospel is announced among the young and the poor today. This pilgrim journey through 130 nations began on January 31, 2009, the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Salesian Congregation. It prepares us for the 2010 celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Don Bosco’s birth near Turin, Italy on August 16, 1815.

The relics of Don Bosco have been recomposed from the urn that contained his remains since 1929 when the body was exhumed for his beatification and canonization. The bones and tissues of the right hand and arm have been taken and placed within a wax replica of St. John Bosco's body, whic in turn is enclosed in a large urn.

The urn was constructed specially for this pilgrimage. It is composed of a large glass box in which the wax replica is placed, and easily viewed. The box is mounted atop a large wood and metal cart. Among the urn's decorations are the words, "Da mihi animas, ceatera tolle," which translates to, "Give me souls, take away the rest," one of Don Bosco's many quotes that guided his ministry from its earliest stages through today. Images of young faces also surround the urn, as well as maps showing where the Salesian Family is present today. Finally, the years 1815 and 2015 are places near the base, serving as a reminder of the purpose of this Relic Pilgrimage: in 2015, the Salesian Family, and the Church as a whole, will celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Don Bosco's birth in 1815.

The urn weighs 820 kilograms (over 1,800 pounds!). The glass box, containing the relic, is 253 centimeters long (almost 100 inches), 108.3 centimeters wide (over 40 inches), and 132 centimeters tall (over 50 inches). The full urn is tranported via two specially designed and built trucks.

In September 2010, Don Bosco's relics will arrive in the United States of America from Mexico. The pilgrimage through the USA will begin on September 11, in California, where Don Bosco's sons began their work in the United States. After several stops in California, the relic will travel to the West Bank of New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 19, 2010. From there, it will go to St. Petersburg, Belle Glade, and Miami, Florida. From Florida, the relic will travel to Washington, DC, where it will be visible at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The relic will then visit New York for several days, including a stop at the Salesians' Marian Shrine for a large Youth Rally and another at St. Patrick's Cathedral. From NY, the relic will travel to Chicago, from where it will prepare to cross yet another international border into Canada! The Relic will visit Toronto (St. Benedict Parish - Oct 5, 2010), Montreal, and Surrey, before it departs for the Far East on October 10, 2010.

We invite you to browse the official website for more information about the Relic's visit to the United States of America and Canada.

Maybe you are asking yourself "Why do Catholics venerate relics anyway? Is there any basis in the Bible for this tradition? Are relics just superstion?" To read more about the meaning and importance of relics in our Catholic tradtion, please click here.

Don Bosco's Relic to Visit St. Petersburg, Florida!

From September 22 - 23, the relics of St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco will be visiting the Diocese of St. Petersburg as part of a world-wide pilgrimage to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian community and the 200th anniversary of John Bosco's birth. This is a unique opportunity for us to gather as local church for prayer and to be inspired by the life of this great saint of the Church.


n contrast to a traditional pilgrimage in which one would travel to Italy to venerate the relics of St. John Bosco, the relics are traveling to the faithful around the world. This allows for those who have benefitted from the ministry of the Salesians of Don Bosco or have a devotion to St. John Bosco to make a pilgrimage without having to travel to Italy. This is truly in keeping with the work of John Bosco who always felt it important to go to the people to whom he ministered.


The relics will be located at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle and there will be a series of prayer services and presentations as well as opportunity for quiet prayer and reflection throughout the relics' visit. Highlights include the welcoming prayer service and a Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Lynch at 8:15 AM on Thursday, September 23 in the Cathedral.

For more information about the schedule of events please click here.

Don Bosco's Relic in Louisiana

The relic of Don Bosco is set to visit our Salesian Family in Louisiana!  Fr. Jim McKenna, SDB has written a letter for the Salesian Family of the Westbank and all those who would like to come and share the grace and joy of the visit!  Here is a link to the dates and times.

St. Rosalie Church 608 First Ave. Harvey, LA Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 7:00 a.m. til 9:00 p.m.

(504) 340‐1962

Alario Center 2000 Segnette Blvd. Westwego, LA Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 10:00 a.m. til 12:00 p.m.

(504) 340‐6727

St. John Bosco Church 2114 Oakmere Dr. Harvey, LA Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 5:00 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. (504) 340‐0444

Don Bosco is coming to Chicago!

Here is the Schedule for the visit to Chicago:

October 2
5:30 pm
Gathering at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for prayer and fellowship while preparing for arrival of Relic at O'Hare Airport. Upon arrival, a procession of cars will accompany the Relic to St. Ferdinand Parish.


7:00 pm
Reception of the Relic at St. Ferdinand Parish
Procession of Relic along McVicker Ave to St. John Bosco Parish


8:15 pm
Welcoming Ceremony at St. John Bosco Parish:


Prayer Service presided by Bishop Garcia


Music led by Polish Highlanders


9:00 pm
Relic is placed inside the Church, where the faithful are welcome to Venerate the Relic


9:30 pm
All-Night Vigil Begins


October 3
7:00 am
Parish Mass in Spanish


8:30 am
Prayers, led by those in Consecrated life and seminarians


9:00 am
Rosary for Vocations


9:30 am
Parish Mass in English


11:00 am
Parish Mass in Spanish


1:00 pm
Outdoor Mass


2:30 pm
Youth Rally
schedule coming soon!


3:30 pm
Break-Out Sessions


5:00 pm
Youth Rally continues


6:00 pm
Outdoor Prayer, "Good Night", and Blessing


7:00 pm
Parish Mass in Spanish


8:30 pm
All Night Vigil Begins


October 4
8:00 am
Parish Mass in English


9:00 am
Closing Prayer Service


10:00 am
Relics Depart for Canada

Don Bosco Among Us in Washington D.C.

The Salesian Family in Washington D.C. are preparing for the visit of Don Bosco's relic!  You can check out the site here.

Basilica of the National Shrine

of the

Immaculate Conception

(Upper Church)

September 28, 2010

Schedule

8:30 am

Welcoming the Relic

Opening Service

9:30 am – 6:00pm

Continuous

Veneration of the Relic

6:30 pm

Eucharist

concluding the day of Pilgrimage and Veneration of the Relic

Archbishop

Donald W. Wuerl

Celebrant and Homilist

Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepcion

(Iglesia principal)

28 de septiembre 2010

Horario

8:30 am

Bienvenida Oficial de la Reliquia y Servicio de Apertura

9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Veneración continúa de la Reliquia

6:30 pm

Eucaristía concluyendo el día de Peregrinaje y la Veneración de la Reliquia

Arzobispo

Donald W. Wuerl

Celebrante y Homilista

Bishop Barbarito of Palm Beach Speaks about the Visit of the Relic of Don Bosco!

A casket containing relics of St. John Bosco is scheduled to visit the United States and Canada beginning in mid-September, 16 months after a world tour reaching 100 nations. The pilgrimage of the relics began April 25, 2009, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesians of Don Bosco and is to continue until shortly before the 200th anniversary of the saint's birth near Turin, Italy, on Aug. 16, 1815.

The relics will arrive for a two-day visitation in Belle Glade, FL on Friday September 24, 2010 at St. Philip Benizi parish, 710 South Main Street, Belle Glade. All are invited to attend a Mass which will be celebrated by Most Rev. Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Friday September 24, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Immediately following the Mass, the public will be invited to remain in prayer as the church will be open until 11:00 p.m. for continued devotion and veneration. On Saturday September 25, 2010 all are invited to participate in a Mass celebrated by the pastor, Fr. Joseph Santa-Bibiana S.D.B. at 8:00 a.m. Following the Mass there will be once again an opportunity for the public to prayerfully venerate the relics throughout the day. At 3:30 p.m. there will be a special time of prayer for Salesian “alumni” (*those who have attended Salesian schools and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christian Schools and all friends of St. John Bosco). Joining in the day’s devotion will be retired Salesian auxiliary Bishop from Boston, MA, Most Rev. Emilio Simeon Allue. All events are open to the general public. For the tour, the bones and tissues of the right hand and arm of the 19th-century Italian saint have been placed within a wax replica of St. John Bosco's body, which is being displayed in a glass box mounted on a large wood and metal cart.

The display -- weighing more than 1,800 pounds and measuring approximately 8 feet long, 3 feet wide and 4 feet tall -- has been transported around the world by plane and in specially designed and built trucks.
The veneration of relics is an important aspect of the devotional life of the Catholic Church. It connects the people of God with the sanctified remains of holy men and women who now intercede for the Church in heaven. The scheduled stops in North America include: California, New Orleans, Florida, Washington, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and Surrey, British Columbia.

For more information about Saint John Bosco and the “Pilgrimage of Relics” to the Diocese of Palm Beach and other regions in Florida please visit http://www.donboscoamongus.org or contact the parish of St. Philip Benizi at 561-996-3870.