(ANS – Barcelona) – The Salesian Province "Maria Santissima della Mercede " was the last Spanish territory to receive the relic of Don Bosco. Welcome tributes however, were not at all inferior to other opportunities, with visits marked with great joy and enthusiasm. From 31st October to 2nd November, the relic was at Huesca (Aragon), on the 3rd and 4th November in Ciutadella de Menorca (Balearic Islands), and finally, from 5th to 11th November in Barcelona (Catalonia).

The visit has aroused great interest in the Salesian Family, who attended with all the groups in the Province, seizing this opportunity to deepen the Salesian charism, for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, in 2015. The peregrination of the relic, has perhaps surpassed the Salesian estimates, deserving the participation of bishops and many faithful devotees of the Saint of young people.

There were many celebrations: eucharists, processions, prayer vigils, night adorations and more. On each occasion, the young and Don Bosco were always at the centre of attention. Among these events is certainly the great gathering organised by the Salesian Youth Movement in Barcelona, with over a thousand young revelers.

The Provincial, Fr Ángel Asurmendi, pointed out: "Don Bosco always opted for the poorest youth, worried about smaller ones, those who had nothing and were excluded from society" and hoped that the visit of the relic would revive among the Salesians and society the vocation to the most needy. The Provincial also drew a parallel between the historical moment in which Don Bosco lived and the present one, in which a major part of the population in Spain are victims of unemployment – especially the youth segment, with ratings exceeding 40%. Don Asurmendi has therefore stressed that " it wasn’t easy either for Don Bosco ", but he continued to fight and always believe in young people, especially those most disadvantaged and excluded from society.

The ceremony of farewell to the relic of Don Bosco, on Sunday 11th November, took place at the work of Martí-Codolar, more than one hundred years after Don Bosco's visit to Barcelona, immortalized by the famous photograph. After a few moments of prayer and reflection, the silence was broken by a large number of youths who shouted with joy: "Viva Don Bosco!".

Published 14/11/2012