I'm happy to learn that the relics of my school patron, St. John Bosco, is coming to the Bay Area. Just recently, we were fortunate to welcome the relics of another saint (St. Jean Marie Vianney). May the intercession of these two great saints encourage more priestly and religious vocations!
Taken from Sts. Peter and Paul Parish website:
As we prepare for the bicentennial of Don Bosco's birth in 2015, a relic of our founder is making its way through five continents. The reliquary, which displays a likeness of Don Bosco as well as a bone from his right arm will arrive at Saints Peter and Paul Church on Saturday, September 11, 2010, and leave on September 13. We will be celebrating days of festivities before and during Don Bosco's visit as we mark this truly once-in-a-lifetime event. Google "Facebook Don Bosco Relic" to go to the Facebook page which has lots of information about the visit.
Schedule of events
Salesians of Don Bosco
666 Filbert Street San Francisco, CA 94133
415-421-0809 (Google map) (Parking map)
Wednesday, September 8
6:00 PM Music in the Church.
6:15 Address of Gratitude by Mr. Al Baccari
7:00 Mass celebrated by Archbishop George Niederauer
Thursday, September 9
6:15 PM. Mr. Russ Gumina, Director of the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club,
peaks on The Salesian Youth Movement.
6:30 Mass celebrated by Fr. John Itzaina, SDB, Pastor
7:30 Reception in the Auditorium
Friday, September 10
6:15 PM Short talk on the history of the Salesian Movement.
6:30 Mass
7:30 Reception in the Auditorium
Saturday, September 11
11:30 PM: Don Bosco arrives!
Sleep-over at the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club. All-night veneration and prayer in the church (enter through Church Office). Honor guard of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta, and Knights of the Holy Sepulcher
Sunday, September 12
7:30 Mass "Don Bosco: Model of Service"
8:45 Mass "Don Bosco: Apostle to the Young"
10:15 Mass "Don Bosco: Missionary to the World" celebrated by
Bishop Emeritus Ignatius Wang
12:00 Mass "Don Bosco: Model of Holiness" followed by a Reception in the Auditorium.
5:00 Mass "Don Bosco: Faithful for the Kingdom," honoring our Salesian Jubilarians.
The following schedule comes from the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology:
Monday, September 13
9:00 AM School Mass.
10:00 AM. The Relics depart and will travel through the streets of San Francisco to Corpus Christi Church.
Tuesday, 14 September
San Francisco via East Bay (Richmond, Berkeley, DSPT from 12:15-2:15 pm) to Watsonville (Our Lady Help of Christians Church).
Wednesday, 15 September
Watsonville (Our Lady Help of Christians, St Francis) to Los Angeles (St Mary's Parish, Boyle Heights).
Thursday, 16 September
Los Angeles (St Mary's, Salesian High, St Bridget's) to Rosemead (Don Bosco Techn, St Joseph Youth Renewal Center).
Friday, 17 September
Rosemead to Bellflower (St John Bosco, St Dominic Savio Parish, remaining until 19 September).
19 September 2010
Transport by air to New Orleans.
Don Bosco's relics arrive first in San Francisco – historically the port of arrival of Don Bosco's sons in the United Sates – then gradually travel to Southern California, where the Salesian Family has the largest population in North America. Local committees will coordinate celebrations.
The relics of Don Bosco have been recomposed from the urn that have contained the saints remains since 1929 at Valdocco. The bones and tissues of the right hand and arm have been taken and recomposed to be included into two reliquaries, one of which is shaped as a statue of the saint and is being brought in pilgrimage to India; the other reliquary is a replica of the remains of the saint composed in the urn at Valdocco, and this is being brought to the rest of the world, including California.
This latter reliquary is made of fiberglass; the relics have been documented and sealed in box that has been placed within the image of Don Bosco in repose (they are placed in the chest of the sculpted body). This in turn is in an urn, which has been constructed for transport and for display. The total weight of the reliquary in the urn is 820 kg (1,808 lbs). The dimensions of the classical style urn on the cart are: length 253cm (99.61 inches); width 108.3cm (42.64 inches); height 132 cm (52 inches).
The reliquary urn of Don Bosco is being transported by truck that has been specially designed and built by Iveco for this purpose. Two Iveco trucks will arrive together: one for transport and one for escort as an emergency vehicle. Two drivers, specifically trained for this event, have charge of each truck.
Hi Jay, I am a fellow Filipino based in Manila. I came across your blog when I was looking for an image of the relic of St. John Bosco, which will be arriving in Alabang this Thursday. I hope that you will not mind my using the photo above in my blog: oureyeonmanila.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteYou can also find me in Facebook. Thanks and regards, Gerry Siquijor