Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colonia (Agenzia Fides) – After having traveled through Chile and Argentina, on Tuesday, September 8, the relics reached Uruguay in a boat that made its way up the Rio de la Plata of Colonia. Waiting to receive them was Bishop Carlos Maria Collazzi of Mercedes, who then presided a procession to the Church of Saint Joseph the Worker, where he celebrated the Mass. Also present was the Provincial Superior of the Salesians in Uruguay, Fr. Daniel Sturla; the Vicar of the Salesian Inspector's Office in Buenos Aires, who presented the relics, and a large gathering of Salesians from the communities of Montevideo, Merceded, and Juan Lacaze. The world pilgrimage of the relics of Saint John Bosco began last April 25 (see Fides 27/4/2009), visiting the 130 countries where the Salesian charism is present, and will end in 2015, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Saint John Bosco.
On September 9, the relics reached the city of Juan Lacaza, where the welcoming ceremony was accompanied by the “Don Bosco Band.” They were then taken to Our Lady, Help of Christians School, where they remained until September 13. During that week, they are visiting the city of Las Piedras and Sarandi de Yi, and then on Saturday, the 19th, they will travel to the Diocese of Melo. After visiting the other important towns in the area, so that every Diocese can have an opportunity to venerate them, the relics will leave Uruguay on September 23. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 18/9/2009)
