It was welcomed at Huaquillas with great honour and Don Bosco was accorded the title of Guest of Honour. Among those present were the Mayor, Manuel Aguirre, members of the Local Council, the Head of the National Police, Polivio Vinueza Lieutenant Colonel of the III Frontier Brigade. At this stage the casket has a new version.
In order to enable the large casket which left Turin on 25 April 2009 to receive some necessary maintenance, a temporary, lighter and smaller container has been made. The organisers are working hard to ensure that the large casket will be in use again, at the latest for the Mexican stage of its journey.
Arriving at Machala, Mass was said in the Cathedral and this was followed by a procession which included the parishes of “Bosque”, “Venezuela” and “Voluntad de Dios”. There were also a number of activities organised by the Salesians with the help of catechists, volunteers and the Salesian Womens Association.
During an all-night prayer vigil beginning at 8.00 until the morning of 9 April in the parish of “Voluntad de Dios”, an endless line of people approached the casket to see the saint and to pray for their needs. At 4.00 in the morning the casket, escorted by Past Pupils from the Salesian Technical High School, was moved to Cuenca.
At Cuenca too, after going along the main streets of the city the casket was welcomed at the Cathedral dedicated to Mary Immaculate where Archbishop Luis Cabrera Herrera O.F.M., of Cuenca, presided at Mass. The celebration, which was also transmitted live in streaming on the site of the Salesians of Ecuador, was attended by various ecclesiastical and civic authorities. At the end of Mass the Mayor, Pal Granda, declared Don Bosco “Guest of Honour” of the city.
In the afternoon the casket was taken to the Salesian University. Here, after a performance of the musical “Andiamo Ragazzi” there was a prayer vigil.
Yesterday and today visiting the “Ricardo Márquez” Institute, the “Carlos Crespi” School and the “Mary Help of Christians” parish the casket is at Macas.
On the site of the Salesians in Ecuador it is possible to follow the full programme of events, and especially some live in streaming. On the site www.missionidonbosco.tv it is possible to see films of other stages in the pilgrimage of the casket which has now been almost a year on its travels.
Published 13⁄04⁄2010
