Thousands pay respect to 19th century saint's relic

Udupi, August 25: Thousands of devotees comprising all sections of people of the Christian society on Thursday pay their respects to the relics of 19th Century Italian priest and educator St. John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco, at the Our Lady of Health Church at Shirva near here.

The worldwide pilgrimage of the relic began in Italy on April 25, 2009, to mark the 150th anniversary of a religious order founded by him, namely, the Society of St Francis De Sales, popularly called the Salesians of Don Bosco.

At around 8.15 a.m., students from various Christian institutions accorded a rousing welcome to the relics of St. John Bosco in a motorcycle rally from Bantakal to Shirva. The vehicle was received by the Bishop of Mangalore Aloysius Paul D'Souza at the Our Lady of Health Church at Shirva at 9 a.m.

Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration for youth at the church at 11 a.m.

The relic arrived in Shirva from Goa via Sirsi in Uttara Kannada. It will travel to Bangalore via Hassan.

The relic arrived in India in April 2011 at Dimapur in North East India. It is being taken through the major cities and centres of the 10 provinces in India where Salesians of Don Bosco have their centres.

As per the schedule, the relic would complete its India journey on November 30, 2011 and leave for Sri Lanka. The relic will tour about 129 countries of the world before concluding its seven year journey in 2015 to celebrate the bicentenary of his birth.

The relic comprising 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. The sculptured face of the statue is made with Don Bosco's own death mask – the mould made on his face right after his death and designed by Architect Gianpero Zoncu.

26 centres in Karnataka

Interestingly, there are nearly 400 Don Bosco centres in 10 provinces in India and 26 centres in Karnataka including six in Konkan province spread in three dioceses - Mangalore diocese (Shirva, Thrasi near Kundapur and Bola near Karkal), Karwar diocese (Sirsi) and Belgaum diocese (Belgaum town and Hubli).

The Salesians have also adopted a village at Pavoor near Manjeshwar in Kasargod and are working for the upliftment of the primitive tribe (the only church where mass is offered in Tulu).