austraLasia #2825 Don Bosco visits St Margaret Mary’s, North Brunswick by Fr Bernie Graham SDB
MELBOURNE: 22 March 2011 -- The Pilgrimage of the
Statue and Relic of Don Bosco to Melbourne concluded with a
number of wonderful celebrations at St Margaret Mary’s
Parish, North Brunswick. After almost two weeks visiting
other Salesian schools, parishes and communities in
Melbourne, the beautiful statue of Don Bosco surrounded by
his young people and containing a relic of the Saint came to
the parish of North Brunswick which has been under the
pastoral care of the Salesians for the last 30 years.
The celebrations commenced on Friday
evening with a gathering of Religious, Salesian Priests,
Brothers, Sisters and members of other Orders and Diocesan
Priests and Seminarians. Fr Frank Moloney and Sr Margaret
Bentley, the respective Provincials of the Salesians and
Salesian Sisters, spoke to those present about the legacy of
Don Bosco, his charism and the challenges of living the
Salesian consecrated vocation in today’s world. During the
evening prayer, Fr Greg Chambers sdb (Vice Provincial), Sr
Marguerite Nguyen fma (originally from Vietnam) and Br
Joseph Kizhakkedath sdb (a young Salesian missionary in
Cambodia, currently studying for the Priesthood in
Melbourne) gave moving personal testimonies of their own
journey with Don Bosco.
On Saturday about 200 young people,
coming from the many Salesian settings in Victoria, gathered
for a day of celebration. Conducted in a style to capture
the “Spirit and Style of Don Bosco’s original Oratory in
Turin’, the day included prayer, catechesis, presentations
from various people retelling aspects of the life and
charism of Don Bosco, including a visit and presentation by
Archbishop Denis Hart, all interspersed with much fun, many
games, good food and youthful enthusiasm. The day concluded
with a moving prayer service around the Relic of Dion Bosco,
a concert featuring the great musical talents of those who
had been part of the day and fireworks to bring it all to a
grand and spectacular finale.
The celebrations on Sunday centred on the
Eucharist with masses in English, Italian and Vietnamese
during the morning and then a festive procession leading up
to an open-air Mass celebrated by Salesian Bishop Tim
Costelloe. Many people gathered for this wonderful
concluding celebration during which they were reminded to
“Listen to the call of the Lord”, as was highlighted in the
Readings for the Second Sunday of Lent and as was exhibited
so exceptionally by St John Bosco throughout his life and
ministry.
Parish Priest Fr Anthony Quang sdb and
the whole parish community of St Margaret Mary’s were
outstanding hosts for all these celebrations, providing an
enthusiastic welcome, very generous hospitality and a very
prayerful atmosphere in which to celebrate the presence of
this great saint among us, to thank God for his gift to the
Church and to come together as a large Salesian Family. _________________
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