(ANS – Prague) – Friday, 1st February St John Bosco's Relic, kept in a statue, arrived in the Czech Republic. The statue arrived at the Provincial House in Prague on Saturday 2 February where it was devoutly visited by various groups of the Salesian Family in the country.

The church in the house was packed with faithful when Bishop Karel Herbst, sdb, Auxiliary bishop of Prague presided at the welcoming Mass. The faithful were able to venerate the Relic afterwards and be present at an all-night Vigil.

The pilgrimage of Don Bosco's statue in the St John Bosco Province, Czech Republic has the motto “Don Bosco here with us – alive still amongst young people today”, and expresses the Czech Salesian Family's gratitude for Don Bosco and his work, still growing and bearing fruit today.

The Relic will remain there until 13 February and by the end of the visit will have been to eleven cities historically bound up with Salesian work. Wherever the statue goes it will be accompanied by a display of materials about Don Bosco made by young people in Salesian schools and centres.

There is also an official hymn for the visit, recalling Don Bosco's words: “Do not put off to tomorrow what you can do today”.

Published 06/02/2013