(ANS – Madras) – About 350.000 people – according to local estimates –accompanied the casket in the final stages of its journey in the country, before leaving for  Sri Lanka. As spokesman for thousands of people who had benefited from the presence of the casket in the country, Fr  Raphael Jayapalan, Provincial of Madras, said a fervent “Thank you” to the Rector Major for the occasion. 

The Relic of Don Bosco which was on a pilgrimage across India for the last seven months left India last night, having traversed 27,990 km through the length and breadth of the country, everywhere evoking waves of unprecedented fervor and spiritual enthusiasm, particularly among the young. On Friday 18 November, its last day in India, the relic was taken to four places of historical importance in Chennai – the Votive Shrine at Kilpauk founded by the Salesian Archbishop Louis Mathias SDB, former archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, the Little Mount where St Thomas the Apostle lived, the Sacred Heart Seminary at Poonamallee also founded by Archbishop Mathias in 1936 and under the direction of the Salesians until 1998, and St Thomas Mount, where the Apostle was martyred in the year 72 A.D

Despite heavy rains in the morning, several thousand people venerated the saint’s relic at the Votive Shrine in Kilpauk. For the archdiocese and for the parishioners of the Shrine, it was an opportunity for showing their appreciation and love for Don Bosco. At Little Mount, the relic drew unprecedented crowds, most of whom were people of other faiths,  people suffering from various illnesses brought by their friends and dear ones, seeking divine healing through the hand of Don Bosco.

At the archdiocesan major seminary at Poonamallee, the presence of the relic of Don Bosco was an occasion to look back with gratitude at the contribution Don Bosco’s sons had made to the seminary and, through it, to the dioceses of Tamil Nadu.

At St Patrick’s Church, St Thomas Mount, a modest estimate put the total number at around 200,000 many of whom had only heard recently about Don Bosco.  The place was filled with people standing shoulder to shoulder in exemplary silence and devotion, waiting patiently for hours to show their devotion to Don Bosco. Then by air the casket was taken to Sri Lanka .

Saying how pleased he was Fr Jayapalan, Provincial of Madras, has written to Fr Pascual Chávez: “Dear Rector Major, a thousand thanks for this great blessing you have given us. We have just taken Don Bosco to the airport. At the end at St Thomas Mount  there were almost 200,000 people and we celebrated Mass with the Bishop. It was so difficult to let Don Bosco leave. (…) Last night we had a prayer vigil with the Salesian Family and for the Salesians, Sisters and Cooperators it was unforgettable. (…) Thank you so much for this occasion. It was such a beautiful thing to have Don Bosco with us. With great affection, respect and gratitude, Fr Jayapalan”.

Published 21/11/2011