Roman Catholics will pay tribute, January 31, to Saint John Bosco, the well-loved founder of the Salesian Order and revered patron saint of boys, school children, and editors.
Five holy masses will be celebrated at the Saint John Bosco Parish in Tondo, Manila tomorrow, Sunday. These will be held at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 5 p.m., and at 7 p.m. The masses at 8 a.m. and at 10 a.m. will be streamed live.
Manila Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo will preside over the Eucharistic celebration at 5 p.m.
Only about 210 persons will be allowed inside the church in each mass to observe physical distancing.
Born on August 16, 1815 in Turin, Italy, Don Bosco was ordained priest in 1841. He taught poor boys about God, how to live moral lives, and basic livelihood skills. He founded the Salesian Order in 1859 with the purpose of providing education to poor and neglected young boys.
A follower of the philosophy and spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales, Don Bosco was a known devotee of the Blessed Mother. In 1872, together with St. Mary Mazarello, he established the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians to help poor and neglected girls.
Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888 and was canonized by Pope Pius XI on April 1, 1934. Over the years, devotion to him became widespread, transforming his major shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin, into a popular tourist spot and pilgrimage site. Many churches and schools in many countries, including the Philippines were named in his honor and memory.
In 2010, the pilgrim relic of Don Bosco was brought to the country as part of a worldwide pilgrimage tour in preparation for his bicentenary of birth which was marked on Aug. 16, 2015.