St. John Bosco in Congo

some of the youth infront of the mortal remains of St John Bosco

 

The mortal remains of St John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Family is in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

The pilgrimage with the relics of St. John Bosco, which began on 31 January 2009 during the occasion of the 150^thAnniversary of the foundation of the Salesian congregation, reached Kinshasa, the Capital of DRC on 16^th March 2012.

 

There was a vigil fully animated by the youths of various groups sharing the spirituality of St. John Bosco. The Apostolic Nuncio celebrated the vigil mass.

 

The following day, the relic made a stop at the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo where flocks of Christians came for various religious instructions and veneration.

 

This pilgrimage is to cover 130 countries where the Salesians evangelize the youth and the poor.

 

It is a spiritual preparation for the bicentenary celebration of the birth of St. John Bosco which is to be celebrated in 2015. He was born in Castelnuovo d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy on 16^th August 1815 and died in Turin, Italy on January 31, 1888.

 

The mortal remains of Don Bosco were exhumed in 1929 for his beatification and canonization. His mortal remains are enclosed in a wax replica of his body. This wax replica is laid in large glass weighing 820 kg. It is carried in a light truck specially made for it from one city to another.

 

From Kinshasa, the next stop will be Lumbubashi, the second biggest city of DRC, where the Salesian Family run various pastoral centers for the youth and the poor.

 

During these pilgrimages, the Salesians offer catechetical instructions on veneration of saints and other religious and doctrinal teachings of the Church.

 

Relics do not contain magical powers but are objects (mortal remains of the saints or the things used by the saint e.g. cloth) of religious veneration. During their earthly life, the saints whom we venerate today drew people closer to God. Their relics continue to inspire individuals, for they now enjoy fuller communion with God in heaven.

 

St. Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco (his Italian name) is the patron saint of the youth, editors, publishers and printers. His feast day is January 31.

 

This visit of St. John Bosco to RDC runs from 16^th – 20^th Match 2012.