During the morning of August 16, the cars arrived with families, parents, students, collaborators and educators from the two teaching units, as well as with many faithful from several parishes of Salvador de Bahia. Following the safety protocols, the families left their food donations, placed the identifying flag, already sanitized, in honor of Don Bosco and followed the procession, always from inside their vehicles.
The procession initially met at the Colégio Dom Bosco in Avenida Paralela, and it was a truly emotional and moving moment, with families and young people who met again after a few months of lockdown and isolation.
Fr Jonathan Loureiro, the coordinator of the Salesian Pastoral of Colégio Dom Bosco, began the blessing of the procession and later, Fr Eudes Barreto, director of the Salesian presence in Salvador de Bahia, wanted to thank the community for their massive participation and then asked for a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of Covid-19. A prayer was then dedicated to the victims of the coronavirus.
After the meeting and blessing, the procession began and the statue of Don Bosco was carried by a fire truck first through the city streets and finally to the Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians at the Salesian Institute of Salvador de Bahia. The director of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Fr Magno Xavier, blessed all the drivers and passengers who joined the procession. The rain did not stop the procession, in which there were more than 200 cars.
The Salesians of Bahia wanted to express their heartfelt thanks to the Superintendence of Traffic, the Fire Brigade, the Police and all those who participated and who made this Carreata a historic moment for the Salesian presence in Salvador de Bahia.
