Day 12: Don Bosco Novitiate Morogoro

13/12/2011, Morogoro, Tanzania On 12th the convoy carrying the Relic of Don Bosco reached Morogoro at 14.00, in time as planned. The first stop was in one of the town parishes, Kwa Ndege. Half a kilometer before the parish itself a lot of children and youth were waiting dressed in colorful T-shirts, waving flags, accompanied by the novices. At the parish, the parish priest and a huge number of Christians welcomed Don Bosco with singing and dancing. Once in the Church there was prayer service and everyone had a chance to whisper a prayer in front of the Relic. After about an hour and a half, in solemn procession, directed by the local police and accompanied by many cars, motorbikes, buses carrying children and a brass band made its way to the Cathedral at the city centre. For about 45minutes the busy street of Morogoro stood in owe seeing the procession and made way for Don Bosco to move to its next destination. The Mass was presided over by the VG (Vicar General) of the diocese as the bishop was out of town. 10 priests concelebrated. In the beginning of the Mass a detailed explanation was given on the meaning of the Relic and the reason behind the presence of this Relic in Tanzania by the vice –provincial. The Church was packed to capacity on a Monday afternoon! After the Mass everyone was given a short time to converse with Don Bosco before parting for home. After that the Relic was taken to Don Bosco in procession and for the rest of the night the Novices spent the time in vigil around Don Bosco. Following day on 13th the mass was celebrated at the parish where the Don Bosco Novitiate is situated. At 08.20 the Cars with the relic of Don Bosco moved in procession. At the junction to the parish from the Main road a huge crowd of people especially young people joined and then the relic was taken with singing and dancing. The Mass began at 09.00, the main celebrant being the vice-provincial, and it was over by 12.00. The time was not enough for all to pay a personal visit to Don Bosco. Since the time was short the planned procession back to Don Bosco was cancelled. At Don Bosco there were cultural programs by various groups of youth, food for all and the day concluded with foot ball match in the youth centre and the winners were given a goat. The Relic left Don Bosco novitiate by 14.00. On the way it made a short stop-over that the house of the Sisters of the Mary Immaculate (SMI). At 15.00 the journey to Dar es Salaam began. The grand reception Don Bosco received at Morogoro was truly amazing considering the fact that the Salesians were there only for two years. A very good catechesis on Don Bosco’s Relic preceded before the actual day. Congratulations to the staff and students of Don Bosco Morogoro.

Don Bosco Mafinga: Parish, Seminary, Catechist Training Centre (CTC) Makalala

11/12/2011, Mafinga, Tanzania. On 11th Morning at 06.30 the Relic of Don Bosco began its pilgrimage toward Mafinga, 80 KM from Don Bosco Iringa. The first stop was at a Diocesan parish called Ifunda 40 Kilometers from Iringa. Hundreds of people had gathered there to greet the Don Bosco. This being 40 KM before Mafinga parish, about 30 cars had come from Mafinga to this parish to take the Relic to their parish in a convoy. The local police was there to assist. A Police car led the rest and they made sure that every vehicle, long distance and short distance buses, trucks, cars etc that came in the opposite direction was ordered to get off the road to make way for the convoy carrying the Relic. This is an international highway, connecting Dar es Salaam port to Zambia, Malavi, Zimbabwe, D.R. Congo and few other countries. For an hour and half this important route came to a standstill to the public transport to make way for Don Bosco to pass. It was like Don Bosco himself in person coming to visit Mafinga region.

At Mafinga junction a huge crowd, from the parish, from different out-stations and other parishes joined the convoy and led Don Bosco in procession to the Mafinga parish. By 10.30 the solemn Mass presided over by the Bishop began, and the crowd was so huge that the outside area of the parish too was packed with people. There were 15 priests concelebrating, Slaesians and non-salesians. Christians and non-Christians were there. Dignitaries from the civil and political authorities too were present. (RC) The Regional Commissioner, DC (District Commissioner), the OCD (Police Chief) with his whole troop and the local MP were just a few to mention. All these VIPs were given a souvenir each. The Mass was a beautiful display of how Church and Government came together to honor Don Bosco. The whole Mass and the events that followed were broadcast live on Radio Maria. Radio Maria broadcasted the events of Moshi too.

After the Mass it was time for individuals to pay respect and to pray personally to Don Bosco in front of the Relic. At 16.00 the relic was taken to the Catechists’ Training Centre, Makalala where together with the sisters and few people from around the salesians gathered around Don Bosco in a beautiful moment of prayer. An hour later the Relic was taken to Don Bosco Seminary, Mafinga where a group of about 90 boys who came back to be with Don Bosco even though they were on holidays spent an hour with the Father and Friend of Youth in a well prepared moment prayer and reflection. Everyone had a moment to talk to Don Bosco.

At around 19.30 the Relic was taken to the parish Church where a Church full of people, young and old, spent the entire night in vigil. The vigil was concluded with the Mass at 05.00 in which all the salesians of the region renewed their vows. By now, 12th it was time to say goodbye. An emotional send-off was given to Don Bosco, one could see tears falling from few elderly as Don Bosco left the compound. In addition, a group of ten people with the Parish priest accompanied the Relic to Ruaha Mbiuni, 200 kilometers away to the place where the people of Iringa came to welcome him the day before. This place is on the way to Morogoro, the border Mafinga Diocese and of the Region.

In Iringa Mafinga region it was not just a Relic that visited, but ‘Don Bosco the real person’ himself. Don Bosco was always present of the Diocese of Iringa. Even before the salesians came, Don Bosco was there, he is the patron of the youth of Iringa, and his statue was in the Church at Tosamaganga, built by the first missionaries. From the first word go regarding the Relic, the Bishop of the Iringa, Tarcisius Ndalalagundwa took personal responsibility and was in the centre of the organization of the whole event writing pastoral letters to the parishes and sending occasional reminders. Don Bosco is a name that is at the lips of everyone in Iringa Diocese.

This visit has truly energized the youth, increased the faith and left the people with a sense of owe that Don Bosco was with them.

Day 8: Don Bosco Dodoma

08/12/2011, Dodoma, Tanzania. To make up for the delay of 7 hours of at the border crossing at Namnga, the Flight carrying the relic of Don Bosco took off from Moshi and landed at the Dodoma airport one hour before that is 15.30 whereas the community was expecting the arrival of Don Bosco at 16.30, as a result the planned crowd was not there to welcome the Relic. Soon the members of the community and a small group people came rushing and took the Relic of Don Bosco to the Kwa Ndege parish where the people began to gather to welcome it. There the crowd had to wait for the arrival of the VG who was mandated by the Bishop to welcome the Relic. At 17.30 the church was packed and the Relic was taken in and a beautiful welcome was given to Don Bosco in a prayer service amidst wonderful singing of the choir.

Around 18.30 the convoy carrying the Relic of Don Bosco started its journey to Don Bosco Seminary, Dodoma. With singing and dancing along the road it too two hours to reach Don Bosco. Upon arrival within another prayer service the relic was handed over to the Rector of the institute. Then here was time for those who wanted to pray by the side of Don Bosco.

9th was a full day for Don Bosco Dodoma. The program of the day began with a prayer service at the Miuji parish where Don Bosco seminary is situated. Bishop of Dodoma Gervas and the Bishop Emeritus Mathias Isujaa were present for the service. During the service the Biblical meaning of the Relic was explained, and later in the procession to Don Bosco Tech both Bishops joined the faithful. It took quite some time for this well disciplined crowd to reach the Don Bosco. Once at Don Bosco a well prepared Mass with wonderful singing and liturgical dances began. Two bishops and 20 priests, salesians and non-salesinans were present at the altar around the Relic of Don Bosco. There were also the RC, Regional Commissioner, and few local government authorities. At the end of the Mass Bishop Isujaa spoke with lot of affection how he invited the salesians into his Diocese 30 years ago. After Mass and lunch many departed, but many stayed back to pray at the Relic and later another prayer service was done by the students of school. The Church and government were present for the entire function. 9th being a holiday because of the 50th anniversary of independence it seemed a perfect day for being around Don Bosco. It was also clear that the people were well prepared through the Mass media and parishes for the arrival of Don Bosco.

At around 17.00 the relic was taken to the convent of the SMI (Sisters of Mary Immaculate) where they had prayerful moments around Don Bosco. For dinner all the sisters who helped in the preparations, the parish priest and few friends of Don Bosco were invited. The day came to an end with good night from the vice-provincial.

On 10th morning at 6.15 the ceremony of handing over the Relic took place and by 6.30 the group carrying the Relic of Don Bosco started their pilgrimage to Don Bosco Iringa 300 kilometers on the Southern part of Tanzania.

Day 8: Don Bosco Moshi

08/12/2011, Moshi, Tanzania. The second leg of the pilgrimage of the Relic of Don Bosco in the salesian Province of Eastern Province began on 8th Dec. 2011. From Don Bosco Upper Hill the journey began at around 7.00. All went well until the convoy carrying Don Bosco reached Namanga the border crossing from Kenya to Tanzania. The company contracted to clear the “Cargo” did not show up with the required documents and so the delay. Because of one of the Christians working on at the immigration on Kenyan side after some delay it was cleared. On the Tanzanian side the delay was endless. By the time the Relic was allowed to continue its journey it had stayed 7 hours at the border! This time of delay was a moment of evangelization. Many people, Christians and non-Christians, came to see Don Bosco, hear about him and learn about the Relic. Our team was kept busy explaining and answering the questions of all the curious passers-by.

Around 17.30 the relic team arrived Moshi and directly it was taken to the Cathedral where there was a huge crowed together with the Bishop of Moshi was waiting and Don Bosco was welcomed with lot of singing and dancing. After entering the Cathedral there was the handing over ceremony, a talk by the bishop and the rest of the night was spent in the Cathedral in Vigil which was concluded on 8th Morning with a Mass at 6.00. After the mass Don Bosco was brought to the Saelesian Philosophate and at 11.00 the solemn Mass celebrated in which the community renewed their vows. After this there was some time for those who wanted to spend some time with Don Bosco. By 13.30 the Relic moved to the Moshi Airstip to go to Fodoms on a chartered flight.