(ANS – Dublin) – Saturday 23 February saw the beginning of the pilgrimage of Don Bosco's relic in Ireland. The relic, kept in a Casket, will be visiting Salesian communities in St Patrick's Province until 7 March.

The opening ceremony for the pilgrimage took place in St Agnes' church, Crumlin, Dublin, the highlight being the Solemn Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Brown, Apostolic Nuncio in Ireland. The following day, again in St Agnes' church, a number of masses were celebrated in the presence of the Casket and in the afternoon the Casket was available for veneration by the faithful. In the evening, at Maynooth, a university centre, a number of young university students took part in catechesis on Don Bosco and a liturgy celebrated around the Casket.

Yesterday, Monday 25, the relic was brought to the Salesian school at Celbridge, where for the entire morning the students were able to take part in various liturgies and celebrations in its honour; in the afternoon the school gates were left open to enable people from around to come for reflection and prayer. An evening Mass concluded the day's activities.

“This is a wonderful moment and a great occasion for the Salesian Family and all people in Ireland to discover new frontiers in their Christian life; Don Bosco comes to bless us, intercede for us and remind us that God is love and that he loves us” said Fr Lukasz Nawrat, Salesian missionary from Poland working in Ireland, and who is accompanying the Casket on its travels through Ireland.

“We thank God and Fr Pascual Chávez, our Rector Major, for this beautiful gift and opportunity of re-engaging with all Salesian family and specially with the young people, that they may hear and share the Good News and discover the beautiful meaning of Salesian spirituality”, he went on.

Further information on the Relic in Ireland is available on the website published for the occasion: www.donboscorelics.ie

Published 26/02/2013