<p>It is a run up to mark the bi-centennial of Don Bosco's birth Aug 16, 2015.<br /><br />The relic of Saint John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco, will be accorded a civic welcome and then taken to various parts of Goa for public veneration.<br /><br />"The relic is officially sealed in a casket in the presence of Vatican delegates and is placed in the chest of life-size fibre mould of the saint in repose," said Fr Ian Figueiredo, one of the organisers of the event.<br /><br />Born in the Piedmont region of western Italy, Don Bosco founded the Catholic order of the Salesians, who are known for their quality educational institutions across the world. <br /><br />The right arm of Don Bosco has been travelling around the world as part of its international itinerary since 2009 and will arrive in Goa from Kudal in Maharashtra. <br /><br />"The relic will arrive in Panaji by motorcade and will be accorded a civic reception by the city mayor (Yatin Parekh)," Figueiredo said. <br /><br />"We honour the relic because it is a part of the body of a saint and we treasure and have special respect for it. It will be a moment of prayer and paying of homage to the presence that Don Bosco represented," he added.<br /><br />Goa is already home to the relic of 16th century Spanish saint St Francis Xavier, whose body rests in a casket at the Basilica of Bom Jesus at the Old Goa church complex near Panaji. The relic is open for public display once every 10 years.</p>
<p>It is a run up to mark the bi-centennial of Don Bosco's birth Aug 16, 2015.<br /><br />The relic of Saint John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco, will be accorded a civic welcome and then taken to various parts of Goa for public veneration.<br /><br />"The relic is officially sealed in a casket in the presence of Vatican delegates and is placed in the chest of life-size fibre mould of the saint in repose," said Fr Ian Figueiredo, one of the organisers of the event.<br /><br />Born in the Piedmont region of western Italy, Don Bosco founded the Catholic order of the Salesians, who are known for their quality educational institutions across the world. <br /><br />The right arm of Don Bosco has been travelling around the world as part of its international itinerary since 2009 and will arrive in Goa from Kudal in Maharashtra. <br /><br />"The relic will arrive in Panaji by motorcade and will be accorded a civic reception by the city mayor (Yatin Parekh)," Figueiredo said. <br /><br />"We honour the relic because it is a part of the body of a saint and we treasure and have special respect for it. It will be a moment of prayer and paying of homage to the presence that Don Bosco represented," he added.<br /><br />Goa is already home to the relic of 16th century Spanish saint St Francis Xavier, whose body rests in a casket at the Basilica of Bom Jesus at the Old Goa church complex near Panaji. The relic is open for public display once every 10 years.</p>