NASHIK, AUGUST 7, 2011: The celebrations in honour of the visit of Don Bosco’s Relic to Nashik, on August 6, 2011 saw enthusiastic devotees continually flocking to Don Bosco Parish, to be blessed by this popular saint. A deep devotion and a great feeling of joy on being in the presence of this holy relic, was clearly visible on the face of every pilgrim that came to venerate the Relic of Don Bosco.
The staff and students of Don Bosco School Nashik, under the guidance of the Principal Fr. Diego Nunes, animated a prayer service from 10.00 to 11.00 a.m. expressing their gratitude for the blessings received, by being active participants of Don Bosco’s educational system. The prayer service comprised readings from the Holy Bible, from the Bhagavat Gita and a short skit on Don Bosco enacted by the Past Pupils of the School. The Salesian Sisters and the other Salesian Family members sought to renew in themselves the spirit of Don Bosco, by spending an hour in silent veneration and thanksgiving. The following two hours, from 12.00 noon to 2.00 p.m., were allotted for public veneration. Hosts of people, including people of other faiths, made it a point to walk past the Relic of Don Bosco to obtain favours of body and mind. Fr. Allwyn Misquitta animated the next hour (2.00 to 3.00 p.m.), which was primarily assigned to the youth from all over the Nashik region. In his charismatic style, he challenged and encouraged the youth to recognize their God given gifts and to make utmost use of these for the good of all. The praise and worship service closed with a blessing of peace given to all the youth, through the intercession of Don Bosco.
The Dominic Savio Parish, Satpur organized moments of prayer and reflection for the Marathi speaking faithful from 3.00 to 4.00 p.m. This was followed by the Holy Eucharist in Marathi presided over by His lordship, Rt. Rev. Lourdes Daniel, Bishop of Nashik. The ending of the Eucharist marked the beginning of veneration once again for the devotees and parishioners of Don Bosco Parish, Nashik. This prayer service was animated by the zonal members of the parish community. The solemn Holy Eucharist, celebrated by His lordship, Rt. Rev. Lourdes Daniel and animated by the community of Divyadaan, was the culmination of the entire Relic pilgrimage to Nashik. The Bishop stressed the fact that rather than we going elsewhere to visit the relics of any saint, we were blessed with the golden opportunity of Don Bosco himself coming to meet us. In his homily, the Bishop focused on Don Bosco’s motto, “Da mihi animas…” and invited the faithful to inculcate in their children moral values, so that they may become good citizens and honest Christians in society.
