Driving Don Bosco around

That Don Bosco spent two full weeks in our Province is a great blessing indeed. Finally it is time to thank all those who made this visit possible and real. Among the list of those who deserve our thanks, the three persons who have been with Don Bosco all along measuring every length and breadth of the Andhra roads, deserve a special mention. Here is the photo of the three Italians who accompany Don Bosco's casket and serve as the drivers of the two specially designed vehicles used to transport the casket around the world.

Don Bosco at Kurnool

Kadapa Queues up to pay Homage to Don Bosco

In Kadapa everyone wanted Don Bosco to bless their home, street and Church... and so did Don Bosco! Rather than go straight to the Salesian house, the casket made brief halts at three Parishes and turned around every street of the city! Such was the zeal and fervour of the people for whom St Antony's Industrial Institute (run by the Salesians) has been more than just a landmark in the centre of the town. Fr Raminedi Balaraju, the Provincial, and himself a past-pupil of St Antony's, Kadapa presided over the Holy Eucharist and preached on the great deeds wrought about by the powerful intercession of Don Bosco. Read more!

Don Bosco in Ongole

The pilgrim journey of the Casket of Don Bosco had a rousing welcome at Ongole, in the Diocese of Nellore on September 18, 2011. The Salesian community, parish, the clergy and the faithful of Ongole Deanery made the visit of Don Bosco`s Casket memorable. The participation of the faithful in the whole night vigil with Don Bosco was indeed a great witness of faith and devotion. Read more...

The Salesian Sisters at Auxilium, Ongole extended a colourful reception to Don Bosco`s casket on 19th September 2011. Though the visit was quite short, intense moments of oneness with Don Bosco were vividly felt as the Salesian sisters led the entire gathering into spiritual mood. Rev Fr. Anthony Raj animated the prayer service in which all the parents, students participated devoutly.

Don Bosco at St Joseph's Cathedral, Nellore

The Diocese of Nellore was privileged to have the casket of Don Bosco on September 19, 2011. None other than the Bishop of the Diocese, Rev. Moses D. Prakasam, himself was present for the solemn reception, procession, veneration and Holy Mass around the casket, along with the clergy, religious and nearly 3000 lay faithful of the diocese. The occasion was coupled with the diocesan clergy recollection preached by Fr Yeruva Joji sdb, the vocation promoter of the Province who recently took charge of this responsibility.

In his sermon as well as the address to the people gathered, Bp Prakasam highlighted the sanctity of Don Bosco and expressed his great joy at having this rare privilege of the visit of this great Saint to his diocese. The local MLA, eminent members of the police force, ... Read more.

Don Bosco at PT Parru & Ponnur

Besides the immediate preparation, the co-operators of both PT Parru and Ponnur had made a very personal and committed service of informing and preparing the faithful for this rare opportunity. The police and the government officials played a significant role in controlling the crowds and enhanced towards better coordination of the entire event. It was an interesting sight to see the faithful of the substations arrive at the venue seated to full capacity on tractors to witness the great event. Read more...

Don Bosco at the Andhra Valdocco (Guntur)

After a spectacular homage to Don Bosco in the home of his daughters at Auxilium, the casket of Don Bosco proceeded to the mother house of the Province of St Joseph, Hyderabad on 17th September 2001. The Confreres, Sisters, teachers and the students of the Technical school, Parish and ITI joined the procession as the casket proceeded towards St Michael`s Boys Home, Ring road, Guntur. More than two thousand people participated with devotion in the two hour long procession from Auxilium to St Michael's at Ring road. Read more...

With the FMAs at Auxilium, Guntur

A brief halt at the Salesian Sisters school at Stambalagaruvu, Guntur witnessed a very emotional reception to Don Bosco on September 17, 2011. Sr Ruby the superior, in a very touching speech enumerated the role of Don Bosco in founding the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (popularly known as FMAs). Mr Shanthaiah, the lyricist of many a hymns of Don Bosco was specially felicitated on the occasion. Prior to the departure of the casket, the Sisters renewed their vows (singing it in Italian). Read more...

DB at Pezzonipet

The 16th September 2001 goes down as a memorable day for the Salesian Parish of Pezzonipet, Vijayawada as the casket of Don Bosco touring the Province of Hyderabad reached the Assumption Church at Pezzonipet. More than 10,000 people witnessed the blessed presence of Don Bosco throughout the day at Pezzonipet. Bp M. Prakash presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Earlier, led by young people on bikes, and accompanied by the police band, the casket journeyed through the streets of Vijayawada before entering the Parish compound. Read more...

Don Bosco at Ravulapalem

The students of the local Salesian school, the inmates of Don Bosco, Navajeevan Visakapatnam, the students of Don Bosco Peddabodepalli and the students from Auxilium Gawravaram, together with the Salesian family and the local people made Don Bosco come alive in the streets of Ravulapalem on Sept. 14, 2011. Right from the 2 hour long procession through the town of Ravulapalem to the late night vigil, Don Bosco's hand was busy... blessing people.

Bp Mallavarapu Prakash and Bp (emirutus) Mathew Cheriankunnel presided over the Holy Eucharist. With nearly 5000 people queuing up to visit and pray to Don Bosco, the Church was kept open much after midnight too. Read more...

Don Bosco amidst the apirants and Pre-novices

The casket of Don Bosco reached the aspirantate at Gunadala, Vijayawada on September 15, 2011 in the afternoon. Welcomed by confreres, the prenovices, aspirants (of various congregations, besides the Salesian formees), students of Carmel Nagar and several past pupils, the presence of Don Bosco was one of spiritual fervour and renewal. The day-long stay at Gunadala, one of the first Salesian houses in Andhra Pradesh, was filled with prayer services and continuous homage being paid by nearly 5000 people of the vicinity. Read more...

DB Premnivas welcomes the casket

Don Bosco Premnivas, Mangalagiri is perhaps the only Salesian house in the whole world that caters to the physically challenged children and youth. On September 12, 2011 Don Bosco himself paid the inmates a visit and the children let nothing - neither their physical deformities nor the dark clouds looming large over the campus - dampen their spirits in welcoming the one whom they look upto as their Father! Read more...