DB Relics Pilgrimage India
“The casket containing the relic will reach Kolkata by flight and will be transferred immediately to a connecting flight to Imphal in Manipur for the grand reception and India pilgrimage launch scheduled for the 1st of May 2011,” says Don Bosco Relic Pilgrimage (DBRP) India Coordinator Fr Joseph Manianchira of Kolkata.
The DBRP Dimapur Coordinator Fr Jose Palely meanwhile awaits a miracle. He says “We hope that they will bring the Don Bosco Relic to Imphal from Kolkata by a special flight on Friday the 29th of April 2011 so that we can have more of Don Bosco for the Imphal celebrations and also take him to the remote Tamenglong mission.”
The Vice-provincial of Dimapur province Fr Nestor Guria Coordinator of the spiritual preparations for DBRP adds, “Pope Benedict XVI has granted a plenary indulgence to those who make a pilgrimage to see and pray before the relic of St. John Bosco in accordance with the usual conditions of partaking in Confession, the Eucharist and prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions.”
DBRP India Itinerary
The DBRP India schedule is as follows: Dimapur May 1 – 24, Guwahati May 25 - Jun 28, Kolkata June 29 - Jul 19, New Delhi Jul 20 - Aug 3, Mumbai Aug 4 - 16, Panjim Aug 17 - 26, Karnataka (INK) Aug 27 - Sep 6, Hyderabad Sep 7 - 22, Kerala (INK) Sep 23 - Oct 13, Trichy Oct 14 - 26, and Chennai Oct 27 - Nov 18.
From India the relic is scheduled to go to Sri Lanka (Nov 18-30) and then on to the Africa - Madagascar region.
The pilgrimage covering some 130 countries is expected to end in Turin by August 2014. The bicentennial of St. John Bosco’s birth at Becchi in Castelnuovo D’Asti near Turin will be celebrated with major events in 2015.
DB Relics Background
The urn or casket carrying the relics was constructed specially for this pilgrimage. It is composed of a large glass box in which the wax replica is placed, and easily viewed. The box is mounted atop a large wood and metal cart. Among the urn’s decorations are the words, “Da mihi animas, ceatera tolle,” in Latin which translates to, “Give me souls, take away the rest,” one of Don Bosco’s many quotes that guided his ministry from its earliest stages through today. Images of young faces also surround the urn, as well as maps showing where the Salesian Family is present today. Finally, the years 1815 and 2015 are placed near the base, serving as a reminder of the purpose of this Relic Pilgrimage: in 2015, the Salesian Family, and the Church as a whole, will celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Don Bosco’s birth in 1815.
The casket weighs 820 kilograms. The glass box, containing the relic, is 253 centimeters long (almost 100 inches), 108.3 centimeters wide (over 40 inches), and 132 centimeters tall (over 50 inches). The casket is transported by two specially designed and built trucks.
Veneration of Relics Throughout History
The veneration of relics is as old as the Church itself. The earliest reference to relics is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, in 2 Kings 13: 20-21. In the New Testament: when St. John the Baptist was martyred, his followers recovered his remains and took them to a safe place to be honored (Mt 14:1-12).
Relics are present to remind individuals of the holiness of a saint, and the fulfillment of God’s work through the saint. They help to inspire individuals to pray for saints to intercede for them, and to pray to God to give them the Grace to live a holy, faith - filled life.
In recent years, the relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus (1873 -1897) have been transported around the globe and the relics of Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati (1901-1925) were venerated in Melbourne for World Youth Day 2008.
This is not the first time that Don Bosco’s remains are transported in pilgrimage. In 1929 the remains of the saint were transported from Valsalice to Turin and enshrined in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Again in 1959 Pope John XXIII had the relics brought to St Peter’s Basilica along with those of St Pius X for days of prayer among youth.

C.M. Paul