(ANS – Cherrapunjee) – The sacred relics of Don Bosco arrived at the shrine of St John Bosco, Cherrapunjee on 6 March marking the end of a long journey that began in Turin nearly a month ago. The Casket, which contains a life-sized replica of Don Bosco’s body, is referred to as a “relic” because it has concealed within it the actual bones of the right hand of the saint.

The Casket that arrived in Shillong on 26 February was kept for public veneration at Don Bosco Technical School, Laitumkhrah. Hundreds of faithful and friends of Don Bosco from all parts of the city, taking advantage of the weeklong stopover of the casket en route to its final destination - Sohra (another name for Cherrapunjee), visited the Casket and showed their love and veneration for the saint.

The picturesque Hill City of Shillong has a special affiliation to Saint John Bosco. It was to Shillong that a group of Salesians came as missionaries nearly a century ago. It proved to be a momentous event in the history of the entire Northeast of India as it changed forever the course of history of the region.

The arrival and presence of Don Bosco’s relics in the city received a great deal of attention in the local media of Shillong.

On 6 March, the sacred relic was taken in solemn procession to its final resting place - Cherrapunjee, a growing township 54 kilometers Southwest of Shillong. Cherrapunjee has a shrine dedicated to St John Bosco.

The convoy, which left Don Bosco Technical School Shillong at 6.00 a.m., made two stopovers en route - at Mawjrong and Laitryngew, for veneration of the relic by the faithful. The halt at Mawjrong Parish included the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Fr. James Thyrniang, the Economer of the Province presided over the celebration.

The roaring welcome that Don Bosco received at Sohra was indicative of the strong affection they had for Don Bosco. After a second solemn Holy Eucharist, and when some people gave some testimonies and the public had paid their respect, the relic was taken inside the shrine where it will remain forever.

In the next few months another four caskets containing major relics of Don Bosco will be brought to other places throughout the world where there has been a significant flourishing of the charism of Don Bosco. 

Published 10/03/2016