07/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya.
The Last day of the Relic of Don Bosco was spent at Don Bosco Upper Hill. From Kakuma it was brought directly to the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. First Don Bosco was taken to the crypt of the shrine where the salesians gathered around him to spend an hour talking to him. Then He was taken to the main Church where the faithful spent the whole night in vigil. Many who wanted to spent the last day with Don Bosco came in large numbers. The evening began with Praise and Worship followed by Mass. The rest of the night was spent in watching the movie, “Mission to Love” testimonies from the life of Don Bosco explanation on the meaning of Relic Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Rosary, Adoration and Personal prayer. At about 5.00 AM Holy Mass was celebrated by the provincial to conclude the vigil and a farewell was given to Don Bosco who left for Moshi at around 7.00 AM. Thank you Don Bosco for blessing our land with your presence and we promise to be your true sons and daughters.
07/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. The Relic of Don Bosco began its journey to Kakuma Refugee camp about 900 kilometers North West of Kenya early at 5.15, from Bosco Boys to the Wilson Airport from where it took off in a private plane. About 80,000 refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and few other countries live there. A good number are Catholics and the majority young people. Around 8.30 the plane carrying the Relic took off and arrived at the Kakuma airstrip around 10.30. Crowds of people were waiting to have a look at Don Bosco. At Kakuma the casket was carried in a Land cruiser pick decorated, unlike other places where an imported well fitted truck was used. The Bishop of the Lodwar Diocese, Dominic Kimegich welcomed the Relic with a prayer, the representatives from the UN, UNHCR, Administration Police, GSU, and few other NGOs were all present for the welcome and they stayed through to the end of the function. The government of Kenya was represented by the DO Mr. Eric Wanyonyi. The force behind the organization was Sr. Elizabeth Pappu, FMM. The help and support given by all of them for the successful pilgrimage of the Relic was well seen throughout the event.- At first the Relic was taken to the Town parish and huge crowds followed it to the parish. The Church was overflowing with the people, children and women were everywhere. It looked as if the whole of Turcana district was there to welcome Don Bosco. The excitement among the people was well displayed during the one hour, the Relic was there. After a moment of prayer and veneration, the relic was taken to the Don Bosco Technical School and parish in the refugee camp. All along the 7 km drive through the dusty road to the parish was done as a convoy. All along curious on-lookers lined up the street. At the parish there was Mass and veneration o the relic at the end of which the slaesian community renewed their vows. By 16.00 the relic left Kakuma airstrip for Nairobi.
06/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. Bosco Boys a project for the street children were at the entrance of Utume to receive the Rtelic of Don Bosco. First they took it to their centre at Langata where they spent 30 minutes in singing, prayer, offering flower to Don Bosco and in silence. After this they took the Relic to the main centre Kuwinda. One and half kilometer before the centre, starting from the main road, they took the Relic in candle procession, led by the band. As soon as they arrived at their centre about 22.15 they began the Mass full of singing and dancing. After the Mass they spent the rest of the night in Vigil with Don Bosco.Photo Gallery
Day 6:Don Bosco Utume
05/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. The Relic of Don Bosco arrived from Nzaikoni at the Slaeisian Theologate, beating the traffic of Nairobi at around 17.00. The students of Theology together with the brass band of Bosco Boys, as project for street children, who lives close to the Entrance of Don Bosco Utume welcomed the Relic in style. Once in Utume chapel there were moment of prayer, reflection and viewing for the salesians as well as few other religious and lay persons who came to join the celebrations. The salesians renewed their vows in front of Don Bosco during the prayers and the celebrations came to a close by the Mass, at the end of which the Relic was handed over to the rector of the Bosco Boys project.
The Children of Bosco Boys Langata were at the entrance of Utume to receive the Relic with their brass band.
04/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. Mutuini: The Relic of Don Bosco was given a rousing welcome at the Salesian Novitiate, Mutuini by the novices, sisters, the children of the primary which they run and the people of the locality. As per the plan the Relic of Don Bosco remained there for one hour during which all those who came had a chance to pray, pay homage and to understand better the meaning of relic and the significance of this world wide pilgrimage.
Don Bosco YES: At around 19.30 the relic was taken to DBYES, where the community of the Salesians, Staff, few people and religious sisters from around and some children from Nymbani came to welcome Don Bosco. A beautiful moment of prayer around the relic was organized at the end of which the salesians renewed their vows, witnessed by Don Bosco.
Don Bosco Boys Town: At 20.30 the Relic of Don Bosco moved to Boys’ Town where the salesians and the boarding students welcomed Don Bosco with songs. After the handing over the relic to the rector a rather long moment of prayer in which many students prayed to Don Bosco with open heart. By 21.30 the moment with Don Bosco came to an end by the slaesian renewing their vows in front of the Relic. Later the Relic was taken to Don boasco Upper Hill, the provincial House.
04/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. Day Four was the national day of celebration around the Relic of Don Bosco. It took place at the shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Anyone who participated in the celebration of 4th could say that a great deal of preparation was done before it, the arena outside the Shrine, the decorations, the choir, the security, etc. was just fitting for the occasion. The Mass with the Relic began at 10 AM. It was full of cultural dances and symbols. Three Bishops, Bishop of Marsabit Peter Kihara, Bishop of Kitui Anthony Muheria, the Apostollic Nuncio Alain Paul Lebeaupin and 20 priests salesians and non-slaesians concelebrated the Mass. Bishop of Kihara in his homily said that Don Bosco is the saint for the whole Church. After the Mass there were well prepared cultural programs during which everyone had a chance to have a close look at Don Bosco and to pray to him. Later various groups had a chance to pray with the Relic until 16.30 PM when the Relic Moved to the Salesian Novitiate , Mutuini another location in Nairobi
3/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. The vehicle carrying the Relic of Don Bosco accompanied by the provincial and media personnel arrived at the Salesian Sisters Harlingham, the provincial House of the FMAs at around 17.00. Once inside their compound, Don Bosco was welcomed in a very colorful manner by a group of FMAs and children dressed in colorful Massai dress with traditional dances and songs. After a moment of welcome by the superior Sr. Theresa Fernandes the relic was taken to their chapel where there were moments of prayer, songs, poems etc. and finally the sisters renewed their vows witnessed by Don Bosco. Later the Relic was taken to Don Bosco Upper Hill.
02/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya. Around 14.20 local time the vehicle carrying the Relic of Don Bosco arrived at Don Bosco Makuyu. A huge crowd of children, youth and the people of the area were waiting at the junction from the Highway to receive the Relic of Don Bosco. There was also the presence of the local police. There were brass band, church choir, school students, Slesians and Salesian sisters were all among the people who came to welcome Don Bosco. Immediately after the arrival the Holy Eucharist was celebrated, the main celebrant being the Bishop of Muranga, James Wainania. After the Mass the Relic was taken to the social hall where a vigil was conducted around the Relic. Different groups had a chance to spent time with the founder of the salesians.
Saturday 3rd Morning from 7.30 AM various out-stations came to pray around the Relic of Don Bosco. At 10 AM the solemn Mass was celebrated, Fr. Provincial being the main celebrant. After the Mass the Relic was taken in solemn procession around various sections of Don Bosco Makuyu and Salesian sisters, after which there was a time of entertainment, at the end of which the Salesians renewed their vows. Then it was time to leave for Nairobi, Harlingham to the provincial house of the Slaesian sisters. Don Bosco Makuyu had the privilege of Having Don Bosco over night
02/12/2011, Nairobi Kenya The journey Don Bosco’s Relic to Embu began at 4.00 AM in the morning from Nairobi. It took 2.5 hours as the traffic had not yet began to ravage the streets of Nairobi. At the entrance to DB Embu the school band, Scouts and various other groups were ready to get into action as the Father who loved and lived for the young came in. During the prayer service in the school chapel the vice provincial handed the relic to the rector of the institute Fr. Isaac Maina. Then every boy had a moment to talk to their beloved father and friend. As soon as it was over Don Bosco moved to Don Bosco Girls’ Sec. School Embu which was half a kilometer away. There too the few students and sisters welcomed Don Bosco and had a moment to talk to him.
Few minutes later the Relic moved back to the Boys school where the boys stayed with Don Bosco with prayers and hymns. At 11.30 AM the Mass was celebrated with the Relic by Bp. Paul Kariuki the Bishop of Embu. During the Mass 16 boys were confirmed. At the end of the Mass the Rector of the Don Bosco Boys Community, superior of the Don Bosco Girls Sec. School community, the superior of the Salesian sisters’ community at Siakago and the Bishop were given a souvenir each, small statue of Don Bosco surrounded by youth. Later the Salesian community renewed their vows in front of the Relic of Don Bosco
The last event at Embu was handing over the Relic to the Rector of Makuyu by the Rector of Embu. After that at around 2.30 PM the Relic started its journey to Don Bosco Makuyu.