(ANS – Naples) – After a four-year pilgrimage to all the continents, the relic of Don Bosco came back to Italy, yesterday, 19 September. The first stop was in the city of Naples, which was celebrating the feast of its patron, St Januarius.  Don Bosco was returning, for he visited the city from 29 to 31 March of 1880. He went there to agree arrangements for “an Agricultural School and a Hostel with arts and trades for poor and abandoned children.”

To welcome the Father and Teacher of youth at the Church of St Joseph in Naples were Cardinal  Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples; a representative of the Mayor; Fr Pasquale Cristiani and Sister Marinella Scano, Superiors of the Salesians and of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Province of Southern Italy, and many members of the different branches of the Salesian Family.

Naturally, the first act of welcome was performed by young people from various communities in the region of Campania – the advance guard of the many young people of the Salesian Youth Movement who, from the whole of Southern Italy, will form an uninterrupted chain of visitors to the relic.

The welcoming ceremony lasted two hours. It could be summed up in three words: waiting, welcoming, watching. It began with a lectio divina on the gospel account of the meeting of Nathaniel with Jesus (Jn 2) and a time of fervent Eucharistic adoration. When the relic was brought in, Card. Sepe interpreted the thoughts of all by welcoming Don Bosco. He then led the assembly in prayer and imparted his blessing.

On the third day, there was a sketch recalling Don Bosco’s first visit to Naples. One of the servers at Don Bosco’s Mass on that occasion, on 30 March 1880, was Joseph Brancati who later became the first Salesian priest from Southern Italy. Looking at the example of Don Bosco, the people present could understand what it means to fix your eyes on your neighbour with a look that is full of love.

As the faithful approached to venerate the relic, they resolved to imitate Don Bosco, waiting, welcoming, watching and fixing their eyes on their neighbour. The Salesian community gave each one present a commemorative medal.

Published 20/09/2013