(ANS – Valencia) – The urn of Don Bosco is on pilgrimage from 13th to 31st October in the Salesian Province of Valencia. It has already passed through Cartagena, Cabezo de Torres, Elche, Alicante, El Campello, Alcoy and Villena. In the next few days it will reach Ibi, Burriana, Valencia and Zaragoza.

To celebrate the visit of the relic, the Salesians of the "San Giuseppe" Province organized a series of religious events, and folklore that are awaiting a ‘turnout’ exceeding all expectations.

The Organization of various activities saw the involvement of municipalities along the way and has looked at the attendance of young people at moments of prayer, at the Eucharistic celebrations, vigils and artistic and cultural activities. The peregrination of the relic is proving an ecclesial event, as evidenced by the acceptance of the Bishops of the four dioceses through which the route passes.

On Sunday 14th October the Bishop of Cartagena, Mons. José Manuel Lorca, presided at a Mass in the presence of the relic, attended by a large number of the faithful. On that occasion he said, "Don Bosco is a man of today, who responded not only to the events of the historical period in which he lived, but also those of the present day. One of the things in which he showed himself a forerunner was the ability to understand the importance of the education of young people, and that this is offered with care, tenderness, hospitality and closeness".

The Director of the Salesian work of Cartagena, Fr Candido Orduña, added that for the Salesian Family in town, the visit of the relic called for "greater awareness of the fact that this is the House of Don Bosco; and this leads us to an even greater commitment to the mission that Don Bosco pursued among young people, especially the most abandoned ". And in the Year of Faith, Don Bosco's example helps "to appreciate the importance of guiding young people towards God, not only by bringing them to be an honest citizen, but also to help them become good Christians".

For members of the Salesian community of Elche "the day that the relic passed through our school will be imprinted for life! It was certainly a special day, intense and happy, because by way of the relic, Don Bosco visited our home. It really is as if Don Bosco himself was here with us."

The Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, Mons. Jesús Murgui, who took part in the delightful reception ceremony put on at the Salesian Institute of Alicante, declared: "Don Bosco is not only the father of the great Salesian family, but he is the son of the whole Church, hence our brother; and again, he is  a great model to follow, a man of the Church devoted to education, especially when this was a time of confusion. With the upcoming bicentennial of his birth, I would advise you to look at Don Bosco and to ask for his intercession.

On Saturday, October 20th , also, about a thousand young people from schools and youth associations of the Province welcomed with great joy the holy relic from Turin, as part of the VI Federation Day celebrated in Alicante.

The visit of relic is arousing great success in the digital continent: #VieneDBosco is the hash-  tag of Twitter, that is collecting all the information on the visit of the relic to the houses of the Province of Valencia – you can find it on Twitter with @ salesianosSVA profile, and also active on other social networks Facebook and Tuenti.

Published 24/10/2012