By Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti, SDB

Hong Kong, March 24, 2016 - The EAO casket of Don Bosco arrived to Hong Kong on March 17, few weeks after the South Asia casket, that is now located in Sohra Shrine of St. John Bosco (North East of India, province of Silchar). The three other Don Bosco Caskets with the relic of Don Bosco are located in: Brasilia - Basilica of St.John Bosco (Brazil) and in Panama City (Panama) and in Nairobi (Kenya). Total of five caskets out of Europe - two in America, two in Asia and one in Africa.

“Do you remember that in 2011 Don Bosco’s Casket with the precious relic of his hand came to visit us in all EAO provinces? Yes, you certainly remember. Now the good news is that this Don Bosco’s Casket with a smaller relic “ex-ossibus” (from the bones of the Saint) is returning among us to stay! It is a precious gift of our beloved Rector Major Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime to our China Province of Mary Help of Christians.

Last year the Rector Major decided to give each of the 7 Regions in which the Salesian Society is divided one of the 7 Caskets that made the round of the world in the years 2009-2014. In our EAO Region, the Rector Major chose CIN as the Mother Province. Thank you from the heart, dear Fr. Ángel!

In giving us this precious gift, Fr. Ángel also expressed two-fold desire: The first desire is that the permanent location of Don Bosco’s Casket-Relic will be the Mother House of our China Province and the first house of the EAO: Instituto Salesiano Macau, founded in 1906 by St. Luigi Versiglia and his 5 companions (3 Brothers and 2 Priests). Due to a starting redevelopment for next few years, CIN Province decided for the time being to settle Don Bosco’s Casket in Mary Help of Christians Church in Tang King Po School (Hong Kong). After the complete redevelopment of the Macau Instituto Salesiano, Don Bosco’s Casket and Relic will be transferred for permanence residence there.

The Rector Major’s second desire is that the other Provinces of the EAO Region can request Don Bosco’s Casket and Relic to be sent to them and to stay for a period of time in their Province. We promised the Rector Major that we would actively cooperate with the requesting Province, were we to receive such a request.

Thanksgiving celebration for the arrival of the Casket – Relic of Don Bosco will be help next Easter Sunday on March 27 in Mary Help of Christians Parish, Tang King Po (Hong Kong-China). On the same Easter Sunday we remember two important events:

1. 1846 - Don Bosco, with the boys of his wandering Oratory, sets foot in Valdocco and takes possession of the Pinardi Shed.
2. 1934, the Pope Pius XI presided the Canonization of St. John Bosco in the Vatican" (from the letter of CIN provincial).

Meanwhile during the Easter Week two EAO provinces celebrate their Provincial Chapter: AUL Province of Australia-Pacific (March 28 - April 1) in Lysterfield, Melbourne and MYM Vice-Province (April 4-8) in Anisakan, Don Bosco Retreat House.

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DB casket 2016 India-Shillong