(ANS – Veszprem) – Last Friday 17 May, the urn with the relics of Don Bosco entered Hungary, accompanied by the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Slovenia. There was huge interest and great participation, especially among the young people who saw Don Bosco as a model of holiness.

The first stage was the city of Szombathely where a great welcome parade took place. The pilgrimage of the urn to the Magyar country continued the following day, Saturday 18, to the city of Csorna, where it was venerated also by the Religious of the Premonstratensian Monastery, and then on to Gyor.

After Gyor, the urn was eagerly awaited at Veszprem, to the north of Lake Balaton. Before entering the city, where it was welcomed by the Mayor and the Archbishop, the relic of the saint was taken to the prison, bringing a message of hope to the more than 300 detainees. The Provincial, Fr Béla Abraham, encouraged all to remember the motto chosen for the visit of the relic to the Province of Hungary, “There is someone who is interested in you.”

The visit of the relic of Don Bosco to Hungary was part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Province. The celebrations began in January of this year, but this visit was one of the highlights. The visit was lived by all as a moment of grace and charismatic renewal. The Provincial Delegate for the Missions, Fr Flavio Depaula, had this to say: “Don Bosco is coming to Hungary with his gift of joy, as a man of God filled with the Salesian charism. In this Year of Faith he is a reminder to all of what it means to be a man of faith.”
 
It was very significant, then, that fifty young people from the Diocese of Veszprem who received their Confirmation on 19 May, the Solemnity of Pentecost, chose St John Bosco as their model and patron.

Yesterday, Monday 20 May, the urn reached Székesfehervár, the city where the Patron Saint of the country, St Stephen the King, lived for many years and died. Over the next few days the pilgrimage will continue its journey to the southern part of the country until it reaches Pécs on the border with Croatia.

Published 21/05/2013