(ANS – Bilbao) – Tomorrow, May 1st, the relic of Don Bosco will arrive in Bilbao. In less than a year from the World Youth Day in Madrid – an event which strongly aroused Salesian Spain – The visit of the casket promises to incitenew enthusiasm among those all over the country who live the Salesian charism.

For months ahead, Salesian communities, those of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians and of other groups of the Spanish Salesian family have been preparing  local and Provincial events to welcome the relic and to transform the visit into a vast occasion for the animation of youth.

According to the particular character of each place and community, various initiatives will be organized, such as formative and cultural activities with young people and educators, times of prayer, adoration and celebration of Mass.

A welcoming ceremony will take place tomorrow in Bilbao. The bishop of the city, Mons. Mario Iceta, will preside at Mass in the Church of Mary Help of Christians, accompanied by the Superiors of the various Spanish Provinces, many Salesians, young people and members of the Salesian Family.

In the first weeks of May , also the bishops of  Sebastiñn, Vitoria, Santander, Pamplona, Logroño and Burgos will preside at Mass in their cathedrals  to mark the pilgrimage of the relic of Don Bosco. This gesture will underline the ecclesial character of this event, which draws the faithful to the figure and life of a saint, and so directs them to God.

The programme of the pilgrimage of the casket provides for visits to the following  Provinces:
* Bilbao (May 1 - 18);
* León (May 19 – June 5);
* Madrid (June 6 – 24).
In the months of July and August, the casket with the important relic of Don Bosco will return to  Southern Africa, visiting the following Salesian circumscriptions: Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe-Namibia, Angola and Madagascar. Then it will arrive in Portugal and return to Spain to go to the remaining Provinces:
* Seville (September 19 – October 13);
* Valencia (October 14 - 21);
* Barcellona (November 1 - 11).

The website www.conoceadonbosco.com, which has already been promoting the figure and charism of Don Bosco, will provide material and information about the pilgrimage of the relic.

Published 30/04/2012