A casket with the relic of Don Bosco has been on a visit to the Maltese islands since the 14th of May which concludes on the 18th, as part of a worldwide pilgrimage that has been underway since the 5th of April 2009.

The pilgrimage is taking place in preparation to celebrate the bi-centenary of Don Bosco’s birth (1815-2015).Today, the relic arrived in today in Gozo, welcomed by the Bishop of Gozo Mg. Mario Grech and various entities. It travelled to the Oratory Don Bosco through the centre of Victoria for a feast of youth worship.

The Victoria Scout Group led the corteo, which accompanied the casket through the streets of Victoria. The relic then left in a carcade, travelling to Ta’ Pinu, where it was exposed for public veneration. Prayers were held for the sick and people with special needs, followed by a meeting of prayer led by Fr Francis Zammit SDB for priests and consecrated persons.

A solemn Mass with Mgr. Carmel Mercieca, was held earlier this evening, which was transmitted on PBS. The Relic of Don Bosco will depart from the Sanctuary at 8.00pm.

Don Bosco founded the religious congregation of the Salesians, to have special care for young people and the poor.The relics of Don Bosco have been recomposed from the urn that contained his remains since 1929 when the body was exhumed for his beatification and canonisation. The bones and tissues of the right hand and arm have been taken and placed within a wax replica of St. John Bosco’s body, which in turn is enclosed in a large urn.

The urn 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,” 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.

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 urn weighs 570 kilogrammes (over 1,200 pounds!). The glass box, containing the relic, is 253 centimetres long (almost 100 inches), 108.3 centimetres wide (over 40 inches), and 132 centimetres tall (over 50 inches). The full urn is transported via two specially designed and built trucks.

Photographs: Alain Salvary

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