Saint's relics to arrive in Pampanga
-A A +AThursday, January 6, 2011
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Kapampangans and pilgrims from neighboring Central Luzon provinces will have a chance to see a relic of St. John Bosco, which is set to arrive in this city on January 12.
Don Bosco Academy (DBA)-Pampanga head Fr. Ditto Gueco said the relic of St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Congregation and known as the "father and teacher of the youth," will arrive from Tarlac City next Wednesday and will be taken to the Metropolitan Cathedral.
A Holy Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto at the Cathedral at 12 noon after the arrival motorcade at 9 a.m.
The motorcade will make a stopover at the former DBA campus in Cabalantian, Bacolor, where rites will also be conducted.
At 5:30 p.m., another Holy Mass will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari.
Laus Group of Companies chairman and chief executive Officer Levy Laus, a DBA alumnus, will tender a lunch for fellow alumni at Max's Restaurant in Villa Del Sol, where a program will be held to celebrate the visit of St. John Bosco's relic.
"This is the first time and may be the last time we will ever see the relic of St. John Bosco. That's how significant it is," said Laus.
On January 13, the saint's relic will be taken to the DBA campus in Mabalacat, where it will stay until the following day after a Holy Mass to be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
On January 14 at 9 a.m., the relic will be taken to Manila and is scheduled to stay in schools and youth centers belonging to the Salesian community.
The relic consists of St. John Bosco's right hand, carefully preserved inside a sealed case and inserted in the chest of the lifelike wax replica of the saint.
The relic, which left Valdocco, Italy, on April 25, 2009, is on a world pilgrimage in 130 countries in preparation for the saint's 200th birth anniversary on August 16, 2015.
St. John Bosco, fondly called Don Bosco, was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century.
He was known for his dedication to the education of poor youngsters and employing teaching methods based on love rather than punishment.
The saint founded the Salesian Congregation, after St. Francis of Sales, to help young people become upright citizens and good Christians.
St. John Bosco died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized on Easter Sunday of 1934.
He is known as the patron saint of editors, the youth, school children, students, magicians, apprentices and young workers. (Jovi T. De Leon)
Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on January 06, 2011.
Local news
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