St John Bosco's relic in town
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 29 2011: Thousands of Christians especially from the Catholic community offered mass prayer to the relic of Saint John Bosco popularly known as Don Bosco at Little Flower School (LFS) complex in the heart of Imphal today.

"This is a moment of great significance.

We are lucky to see and touch the saint in Imphal without going to Italy, his home country," said Mabel Gothorp, the School's Sister Superior.

Around 3 pm the glass-covered casket of the saint landed at Imphal airport in a special flight from Myanmar via Chennai.

Incidentally Manipur is first State in the country to receive the casket in the ongoing global pilgrimage tour to mark the bi-century of the saint's birth that falls in 2015 .

Fom Italy's Turin, the casket began its journey in 2009 across the globe where Salesian members are serving the people particularly the youth.

Tomorrow, the relic would be taken to the tribal dominated Tamenlong district where similar prayer sessions would be held, said Fr Jose Palelly of the Don Bosco society.

The relic would again be brought back in Imphal on Sunday where due honour and prayers will be offered at Don Bosco School, Chingmeirong before the same leaves for Dimapur and other States of the country as part of its India leg.

Minutes after the wax-built statue of the saint, with his real right hand bones buried inside the hand was rolled out in a trolley at Imphal airport, people rushed in and began praying.

While some broke down in tears others touched it.

Later a huge procession with large number people in their traditional attire brought the relic along Tiddim Road till Little Flower school complex where hudreds of Salesian members, students and well wishers accorded a fitting reception to the saint before they offered prayers.

"I prayed for peace and harmony in strife-torn Manipur.

As the saint was a friend of youth and educator I also prayed for a value-based education in the region," a Bosconian said at the LFS complex.

"I'm also happy to see the Saint's relic with my own eyes.

I'll consider this day as the most significant day in my life.

With all his blessings, Manipur will prosper and develop in all spheres," a student said.

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