Reflecting back on the relics pilgrimage

Three weeks ago today I woke up in Tijuana… nervous about bringing the relics of Don Bosco across the border into the USA to begin our phase of the pilgrimage… After the final mass in the Oratory in Castillo area of Tijuana (Fr Tim Ploch, provincial of California, concelebrated with Padre Cleofás Murgüia, provincial of Guadalajara), and a brief visit to the breakfast kitchen, Mexico Guadalajara's latest work in TJ, still under construction but fabulously operative, we boarded the vans and the trucks to cross into the USA. 

Final blessing at final mass in Mexico (Castillo, Tijuana)

Breakfast Kitchen for TJ's poor celebrates Don Bosco's coming

Three weeks ago today… we reached the Mexico-USA border crossing at Otai. It seems that the agent from Argentina that was supposed to clear the exit from Mexico had not fully understood one of the Mexican protocols. In spite of this problem, the border authorities on the Mexican side did all to see us through. Then there was the difficulty with the American side: the drivers did not have the proper entry visas. Again, the American officials were very good to us and did everything to speed our crossing. All in all, it took us four hours to cross the border at Otai. 

Provincials Cleofás and Tim on the phone in no-mans land

Once we had crossed from Baja into Alta California, we a quick stop for fuel at the Otai Mesa Chevron, where a delegation of young people gave us a colorful welcome and greeting Don Bosco on his first stop in the United States. 

Province youth meet  us at the Chevron station

From Otai, it took us eight hours to drive from to San Francisco and SS Peter and Paul. With our arrival at 2:00 am, three weeks ago today, after 14 months of preparation that involved so many people in very strenuous ways, our journey began. 

Fr Tim Ploch at the festive Sunday mass in SS Peter and Paul Church when Salesian Jubilarians renewed their vows

Two weeks ago today, I woke up in Bellflower, not know what to expect on the final two days in California with Don Bosco… Savio had organized so many possibilities, and the people of the parish and beyond responded. An estimated 8,000 people took part in the prayers and festivities of that Saturday, when we also stood by our brother Steve Standard making his perpetual profession. 

Families at St Dominic Savio venerate Don Bosco's relics

Don Bosco's Relics in Savio in preparation for evening mass

The next morning, a church-full of parishioners and pilgrims at St Dominic Savio accompanied us as we loaded the relics on the truck for the last time. A few minutes later our little committee headed for Long Beach Airport … only to be redirected to the Ontario Airport because a heavy fog had settled in at Long Beach. Ontario Airport was ready to welcome us, but they did not have the proper equipment and so loading the relics on the cargo jet became a major task that took almost two hours to accomplish. 

  

Loading our precious cargo on tarmac at Ontario California airport

Here I am, flying with Don Bosco's relics from Southern California to Louisiana

The flight took nearly 4 hours from Ontario to New Orleans, but we arrived to officially hand over the relics to the Salesians in Louisiana and the New Rochelle Province. The journey was finally over for us.

Meeting the Salesian Sisters from Texas upon my arrival in New Orleans

One week ago today, I arrived in Rome for the new semester… with the experiences of the relics of Don Bosco still very front and center in my mind and heart. Every night this week I have dreamed about the relics-journey: reliving the joy and also the anxieties (like, will we find diesel at the next stop? will we be able to get up those steps? will we be able to load this tiny cargo jet?)

In just two days, Don Bosco in his relics will complete his journey in the United States. The last stop is Chicago, on 4 October, and from there the crossing will be made into Canada. 

Crossing into California

The morning activities in Tijuana included a procession, a final mass, and a visit to a Breakfast House for the homeless. Then the relics were transferred to Fr Tim Ploch and to myself, to be brought into California. All we had to do was to cross the boarder.

Children of Proyecto Don Bosco in Tijuana venerate the relics

Final blessing at the final mass in Mexico, after 40 days of pilgrimage

 Everyone told me that I should not be concerned, and that we would cross with no problems. But there were a few hitches.

Border crossing at Otay

 After a four hour process to cross in from Tijuana, I arrived with the truck carrying the relics. The drivers are Mauro and Tino.

Cleofás Murgüia, provincial of Guadalajara, and Tim Ploch, provincial of California, talk on cellphones while we are held up in the noman's land between Mexican and USA customs.

A group of young people from Rosemead and Orange County met us at the Chevron gas station on Medina Avenue in Otay Mesa. After filling up with diesel, Mauro and Tino brought the relics out on to the parking lot there: Don Bosco's first glimpse of California -- land that developed the freeway and non-leaded gasoline -- was a refueling station. Very appropriate.

Tino and Mauro lower Don Bosco's relics on to California soil for the first time at the Chevron Station in Otay Mesa

The boys were dressed in the bright colors of the Don Bosco Relics Tshirts that Duoc Le had designed…

Fr Tim Ploch speaks enthusiastically of the meaning of Don Bosco's arrival in USA

The boys sang a couple of welcome songs, including one which they had composed.

Southern California youths sing a song that they composed for Don Bosco

California sun touches Don Bosco for the first time

Following this little reception, the boys and the photography crew got into their vans to drive to San Francisco to meet us there. I got lunch for Mauro and Tino, who had not eaten since 6:00 this morning. The journey will continue after we finish our submarine sandwiches.

Don Bosco's relics in California - Otay is the port of entry

Yesterday I had contact with the Mexican authorities through Cleofás Murgüia, provincial of Guadalajara… and today, with our agent Milo Ott, of Mid-America Overseas, spoke with Officer Roble of US Customs and Immigration at Otay

WE HAVE PRE-CLEARANCE! 

Now we must simple attend to the last details.

Last Monday Duoc Le designed some prayer cards. Duoc worked on the graphics and asked me to prepare a prayer, which I did. We worked by telephone and internet and then Duoc placed an order immediately with a firm in nearby Emeryville. The prayer cards arrived on Friday. Between yesterday and today I have already distributed 5,000 prayer cards with the image of Don Bosco to houses in the Bay Areas. That has exhausted my supply, but I called Duoc and have ordered a further 30,000 cards.  My plan is to bring the cards around to all the places that Don Bosco will visit.

The above is the image of Don Bosco on the prayer cards designed by Duoc Le.

Don Bosco's relics in California - One week to go

At noon I could hear the Campanile of Berkeley chiming the mid-day hour as I hurried back on foot from Shattuck to make sure my cell phone account can take international calls in view of the relics arriving…

One week from now, Don Bosco's relics will be at the gate at Tijuana, seeking to enter the USA. Some of us know that experience, on a busy Saturday at mid-day, but also on a date that raises borders from code Orange to code Red...

Duoc Le and I have designed some prayer cards and I will bring a lot with me to every place as freebies. I'm very happy with the results, and thank Duoc Le with all my heart for the energy that he has put into this project of the relics, not just with the cards, but from the beginning. We have posters with the same image, and I'll bring those around with us as well. I encourage those who are looking for TShirts or kerchiefs to get in touch with Al Vu at St Joseph's Salesian Center in Rosemead and see what's available.

Province Poster with Itinerary

One week from now, it all begins.

A group is planning to meet the relics on the American side of the border crossing. I have to say that Friday the question of the port of entry was brought up by the American consul general in Milano: Main Gate or Otay. This is a new twist which has to be resolved.

Don Bosco Relics - What we are seeing

Following up on what was said yesterday, here are photos of the box that contains the relics of Don Bosco, which is placed within the chest cavity of the statue of Saint John Bosco.

This box contains the relics of Don Bosco's right hand. It is sealed and labeled with an official notice by the Archbishop of Torino.

This photo documents the sealing of the relics in the silver box, with the official seals of the Archdiocese of Torino.

Don Bosco Relics - What we are seeing

Pilgrim relics of St John Bosco venerated by the faithful

The word has been out for a long time, and published in many devotional magazines and websites, that Don Bosco is one of the "incorruptibles". This report is not entirely accurate. We can say that Don Bosco was one of the incorruptibles - but science made a few mistakes. 

When the tomb of Don Bosco was opened in 1929 just before the beatification, according to the prescribed procedures of canon law for the beatification process, the body was found to be intact. However, 41 years after the servant of God's death, the skin had darkened somewhat. The plan was to bring the body of the Blessed, carried in a glass urn from Valsalice to Valdocco, for the festivities at the time of the beatification.

At the time, scientists and doctors discussed doing something to lighten the skin. When they applied the chemical formula that they had devised, there was a reaction that they did not anticipate. The body corrupted almost before their eyes. 

The body was then covered with a wax image so that the festivities might take place, and the Blessed's remains could be placed within the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin (Maria Ausliatrice).

The image was cracked open again at the time of the canonization in 1934, and the corruption was considerable. A new casing was created, and the remains were encased within them.

In 2006 a major renovation project took place on the Basilica. Don Bosco's altar was dismantled for the renovations. This time two identical replicas of the saint's body were made in fiberglass. Each item of bone and tissue was identified and placed within the first replica, that was placed within the glass urn above Don Bosco's altar. It was determined that inside the second replica, the right hand and arm should be placed for the pilgrim journey. However, very quickly it became obvious that in some countries (notably India), the depiction of a saint in death would create more consternation than devotion. Thus, a third reliquary was designed. This is an image of Don Bosco who is standing and surrounded by young people. 

Reliquary of Don Bosco prepared for the pilgrimage in the West

With these reliquaries complete, the relics of the right hand and right forearm were identified, certified, and put inside two silver plated boxes that were in turn sealed according to the norms of the Church regarding relics. This sealed box with the hand was placed inside the chest cavity of the fiberglass statue of the saint in repose; the sealed box with the right forearm was placed with the statue of Don Bosco standing among his boys. The latter image and relics are bound for India and Australia; the former image and relics have already begun the journey in the West. 

The statue of Don Bosco in repose, then, is itself a reliquary. This is the image that concerns us because this is the reliquary that will soon arrive in California. It is dressed in authentic vestments, with a chasuble of the era. The cassock shoes and other garments were newly made, but according to the patterns that were in use at the time of Don Bosco's death. 

There have been some talk in the Catholic Press in the USA that what is coming is a wax replica of Don Bosco’s relics. This information is not correct. The relics are actually being brought and they are within the statue… again, the right hand and arm were designated for the pilgrim journey, since this is the hand of blessing, the hand of baptizing, the hand of absolution, the hand of giving communion… and the hand that Don Bosco favored when he wrote, when he taught tailoring, and carpentry, and shoemaking and bricklaying. 

All the rest of the remains of the saint are encased within the first statue, in a glass urn above the altar of Don Bosco in the basilica of Maria Ausiliatrice, as they have been since 1934 - but carefully catalogued in a reliquary that is refurbished, in a church that is restored. 

Hopefully this clarifies some of the issues surround this event. God willing I shall accompany the relics throughout the journey in California. I will be very glad to meet with anyone who may have questions in any of the places where the celebrations for the youth and for Don Bosco will be held.

Don Bosco's Relics in California - Itinerary

• Saturday, 11 September 2010 – San Francisco: The relics cross the border into the USA and California from Baja California in Mexico, leaving the Salesian Center at 12:00 noon.

A delegation that will meet the relics and accompany them on the road, from Tijuana to San Francisco. 


Projected arrival time for the relics at SS Peter & Paul is for between midnight on Saturday and 2:00 am on the following morning. Parish youth are planning to spend the night for the eventuality of a late arrival.

• Saturday, 11 September 2010 – San Francisco: SS Peter & Paul hosts a reception celebration for St John Bosco. This culminates a triduum of parish celebrations that include invitations to religious and parish priests of San Francisco, Marian societies and cultural communities of North Beach. The triduum will feature ecumenical and youth celebrations. Archbishop George Niederauer will profile Don Bosco in celebrations on Thursday, 9 September; other speakers include Russ Gumina and Fr John Itzaina. Today’s celebrations will have a strong youth dimension, leading up to the welcome of the relics at midnight (or at the moment that they will arrive).

• Sunday, 12 September 2010 – San Francisco: SS Peter & Paul hosts veneration of the relics through the night and early morning hours with six honor guards (SFPD, SFFD, Knights of Columbus, Knight of Malta, Knights of the Holy Sepulcher) and the participation of the youth and young adults, Chinese community, Italian community and Marian societies. Regular parish masses all take a theme: Community Service (7:30), Don Bosco, Apostle of the Young (8:45), Don Bosco, Missionary to the World (10:15), Don Bosco, Model of Holiness (12:00). Bishop Ignatius Wang, Auxiliary of San Francisco, will celebrate the 10:15 mass. The evening celebration (5:00 pm), with the theme Don Bosco, Faithful for the Kingdom, will honor Salesians who celebrate Jubilees and Anniversaries during 2010.

• Monday, 13 September 2010 – San Francisco: SS Peter & Paul celebrations for the children of the school, with a festive assembly and mass of Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians (9:00 am). Send-off of relics from SSPP at 10:30 am, arriving at Corpus Christi at 12:00 noon. Afternoon functions with school children of Corpus Christi. Evening vigil at Corpus Christi with parishioners and Salesian Family, with prayer and celebrative functions. Relics repose at Corpus Christi over night.

• Tuesday, 14 September 2010 – Richmond/Berkeley/Watsonville: Journey from San Francisco to East Bay: depart Corpus Christi at 6:30 am, arrive Richmond Salesian High School at 8:00 am. Student delegations receive the relics at gate and accompany them into Salesian campus as part of Triduum celebration and school picnic. Journey to Berkeley: depart Salesian High at 11:30 am, arrive Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology at 12:15. Journey to Watsonville: depart Berkeley at 2:15 pm, arrive by solemn procession through Watsonville at Our Lady Help of Christians Valley Church towards 5:30 pm.

• Wednesday, 15 September 2010 – Watsonville/Los Angeles: St Francis School, Watsonville (mass and reception for students of St Francis, Salesian Sisters, friends of St Francis); departure (11:30) from Watsonville for Los Angeles (St Mary’s Parish, Boyle Heights); estimated travel time: 7 hours. Evening vigil services with parishioners and Salesian Family and alum at St Mary’s Church.

• Thursday, 16 September 2010 – Los Angeles/Rosemead: St Mary’s Church: following early morning mass, relics are brought to Salesian High School for student rally and prayer service for the students of Salesian High and their feeder school (6:30 am); journey from Boyle Heights to St Brigit’s Chinese: receiving relics and veneration by Chinese community (11:00), with particular participation of the elders of the Chinese Catholic community; journey from Los Angeles to Rosemead: receiving of relics and veneration at Don Bosco Tech (1:00 pm) as part of the student triduum, with student and alum participation; celebrations at Bosco Tech conclude with a procession of the relics, from the school to St Joseph Salesian Center.

• Thursday, 16 September 2010 – St Joseph Salesian Youth Renewal Center: receiving the relics that arrive from Bosco Tech in procession (5:00 pm), veneration with religious and socio-cultural celebrations by a succession of groups. These celebrations include: a children’s program with catechesis, cultural dance, games, exhibits, youth performances, clowns, jugglers, live music (5:45-7:45); Family Rally (8:00); Night Prayer and Good Night (8:30); All Night Vigil (beginning at 9:30 pm) that includes storytelling, labyrinth walk, Taizé Prayer, Rosary, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Film Festival, praise and worship.

• Friday, 17 September 2010 – Rosemead/Bellflower: All night vigil at St Joseph Salesian Center ends with mañanitas and Morning Prayer (6:30), Eucharist (7:00), and a Farewell gesture to Don Bosco with the departure of the Relics for Bellflower (8:00). The journey continues by road from Rosemead to Bellflower. Receiving the relics and veneration at St John Bosco High School (9:30 am) becomes the concluding exercises of a student triduum, with mass, artistic and athletic celebrations. The students of St John Bosco accompany the relics to St Dominic Savio School with a procession along Bellflower Boulevard. The children at St Dominic Savio School receive the relics (1:30 pm) and accompany then into the parish church for veneration. After school, there are parish and Salesian Family observances that will include evening and night vigil services.

• Saturday, 18 September 2010 – Bellflower: St Dominic Savio, Bellflower: religious services, literary-musical events, educational contests and socio-cultural celebrations by a succession of groups: Religious Education, Damas Salesianas, Adma, Alum (Filipino Bosconians; Vietnamese Past Pupils; Ex-alumnas latinoamericanas; Ex-alumnos de Don Bosco; alum of St Dominic Savio; Awakening 68 Don Bosco Makati), ADMA, Don Bosco Volunteers; Young Adult Volunteers; SYLC – Salesian Youth Movement, parishioners, Cooperator Salesians, FMA, SDB. In the evening Liturgy (5:30 pm), the Mass of Perpetual Profession.

• Sunday, 19 September 2010 – departure: travel from Bellflower to Long Beach Airport (LGB) for transport by cargo plane to New Orleans.

Don Bosco’s relics arrive first in San Francisco – the city where Don Bosco’s sons began their first work in the United States in 1897. From San Francisco, the relics will be transported gradually through the state, arriving in Los Angeles County, where the Salesian presence is particularly significant. Local committees will coordinate celebrations.

Central committee: Joseph Lockwood, Elisabeth Gamarra, Duoc Le, Frank Lavin, Marc Rougeau, Joe Boenzi. 

Don Bosco's relics - creating enthusiasm

Flavio Insinna as Don Bosco in 2004 TV series by LuxVide

Elizabeth Gamarra, Cooperator Salesian and member of our central planning committee for Don Bosco's Relics, sent out a note this evening to local site coordinators. It is a very interesting and practical proposal, and I quote Liz verbatim:

I do not know if any of your sites have thought about showing the movie of the life of Don Bosco (maybe to your parishioners if they haven't seen it...maybe to the parents of your students, etc etc.), but thought you may like to see an attractive flyer that Chin / Quejada put together for the Dominic Savio Spanish speaking Cooperators.  You could use it as a sample... 

Always a good idea to provide background info to the communities that may not know much about Don Bosco. They will be more eager to participate in the welcoming of the Relics.

Have a great day,
Liz

Our pilgrimage with Don Bosco is taking shape.