Fr Paul Raj Amal - Chennai, Oct. 29. 2011
The casket with the relic of Don Bosco received a jubilant welcome at the Don Bosco Youth Animation Centre (DBYAC), Ennore, as it arrived at 8.15 a.m., today. More than 1500 school children and about 2500 people waited in eager expectation as the vehicle with the relic inched its way through the narrow streets towards DBYAC, in the northern suburb of Chennai. The vehicle was escorted by the youth of the neighbourhood on their motor bikes.
Fr Andrew, parish priest of Ennore, blessed the relic at Mother Teresa`s Home for the Aged and Mentally Challenged, from where it was taken in joyous procession to the DBYAC campus. A splendid welcome dance by the students of St. Joseph`s Matriculation school and a stunning performance of `kolattam` by teachers of the same school added colour and grace to the occasion. Fr. Joseph Jeyaraj, the Rector, officiated at the prayer service while Fr. Henry Selvaraj gave a short talk on Don Bosco and explained the significance of the relic. Five students from the Evening School spoke on what Don Bosco meat for them. The parish choir kept singing hymns to Don Bosco as waves of people kept surging into the campus to catch a glimpse of the saint and venerate him.
Finally, the Salesian community of DBYAC garlanded the casket and knelt around their beloved Father and prayed three Hail Marys, recalling the day 160 years ago when Don Bosco himself had knelt with an orphan boy named Bartolomeo Garelli to say that same prayer, marking the very beginning of his work for the poor youngsters of Turin. The whole assembly joined the Salesian community in this profound moment of homage.
The services of more than a hundred volunteers chosen from among the DBYAC youth, the parish Vincent de Paul Society and the Salesian Cooperators ensured perfect order and discipline right through the event.
