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During the pilgrimage in the Province of Dimapur, Don Bosco’s relics were venerated by thousands of people and were the occasion for various activities and celebrations.
In just three days between 19 and 21 May, about 20,000 people visited the Salesian church in Golaghat, where the casket had arrived escorted by over 50 bikes in a colourful and festive procession. At the Holy Cross parish in Dimapur, where the casket spent the whole day on Sunday 22, over 2000 people gathered to pray to the Founder of the Salesians and ask his intercession. During the Mass concelebrated by 20 priests Fr Nestor Guria, the Vice Provincial explained the importance of the relics and Fr Joseph Pampackal, in his homily spoke about the importance of the person of the Good Shepherd Don Bosco tried to imitate becoming the shepherd of many young people.
The following day at the Salesian postnovitiate in Dimapur, 17 young Salesians renewed their vows in the presence of the casket. The arrival of the casket turned the whole day into a feast: first the casket was escorted by 50 bikes; then Mass was said with the Provincial Fr James Poonthuruthil presiding; then there was a prayer vigil with singing, dancing, sketches and films about Don Bosco at the end of the day.
On Tuesday 24 in the Provincial House for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians in the presence of about 500 people, a young Salesian made his perpetual profession; 12 Salesians in formation renewed their vows and 13 Salesians-Cooperator made their promise. During the day while the Province celebrated the Feast of the Salesian Family, over 2000 people from the various groups venerated the relics and the Strenna for 2011 was studied and it was pointed out how Don Bosco had the ability to raise up vocations and foster holiness. “He was a saint and a producer of saints,” Fr Pampackal said in his homily.
Early in the morning yesterday Wednesday 25 May, Don Bosco’s relics were taken from the Provincial House in Dimapur to “Nagaland Gate” to be handed over to the Salesians in the Province of Guwahati. Welcomed in a joyful procession led by Fr Joseph N.V., parish priest of Edipi, the casket was immediately taken to Diphu, accompanied by 20 cars.
Three thousand people of whom about 2000 were young students, were waiting for the arrival of the casket. A Mass of thanksgiving was said in the Diphu Cathedral.
On the Bosco Information Service site there is a special section with various multi-media resourses about the pilgrimage of the casket in India.
Published 26/05/2011
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