As part of a worldwide pilgrimage to mark his 200th birth anniversary, a pilgrim relic of St. John Bosco will visit Philippine cities in December and January. Fr. Pascual Chavez SDB, the Rector Major of the Salesians said the worldwide pilgrimage is part of preparation for St. John Bosco's birth anniversary August 16, 2015. "The relic will be in the country from December 5, 2010 to January 15, 2011," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in its news site. The relic will make stops in Salesian schools and parishes, and in some cathedrals where majority of the faithful can view the relic and pray to the saint. Chavez said the activity aims “to renew the desire to know and love the Father and Teacher of Youth and reignite the passion and mission for the young in preparation for the bicentenary celebration of St. John Bosco’s birth on August 16, 2015." A resin replica of the body of Saint John Bosco, the relic contains the saint’s right hand in a sealed case and inserted at the chest of the sculpture. The organizers will use a light truck specifically made for the occasion to transport the relic as it goes from one city to another. The CBCP said the relic's stops will include: NEGROS
Bacolod City Cathedral, St. John Bosco Parish-Mambucal, December 5; Don Bosco-Victorias, December 6-7; Kabankalan Cathedral, December 8; St. Louis School-Don Bosco and Dumaguete Cathedral, December 9-11. CEBU Our Lady of Lourdes-Punta Princesa, December 12; Don Bosco Technology Center, December 13-16; Don Bosco Boys’ Home-Liloan, December 17; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Don Bosco Youth Center-Pasil, December 18; Don Bosco Formation Center-Talisay City, December 20-23. METRO MANILA St. John Bosco Parish-Makati, December 23; San Ildefonso Parish- Makati, December 24-26; Don Bosco Youth Center-Tondo, December 26-27. SOUTHERN LUZON Legazpi City Cathedral, December 28-29; Tuloy sa Don Bosco-Alabang, December 30; St. John Bosco Parish-Sta. Rosa, Laguna, December 31-January 1; San Pablo Cathedral-Laguna, January 2-3; Don Bosco College-Canlubang, Laguna, January 3-5. METRO MANILA Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati, January 5-6; Don Bosco Technical College-Mandaluyong, January 6-8. CENTRAL LUZON Don Bosco Training Center-San Jose City, San Jose Cathedral, January 8-10; Don Bosco Techical Institute-Tarlac, San Sebastian Cathedral-Tarlac, January 10-12; Don Bosco Academy-Mabalacat, San Fernando Cathedral-Pampanga, January 12-14; Shrine of Mary Help of Christians-Paranaque, January 14-15. From the Philippines, the pilgrim relic will proceed to Vietnam and other countries of the East Asia-Oceania region. Patron of the Youth Saint John Bosco (Italian name: Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco) is the patron saint of the youth, editors, publishers and printers. His feast day is January 31. He was born in Castelnuovo d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy on August 16, 1815. He died in Turin, Italy on January 31, 1888. Saint John Bosco was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century. He dedicated his life to educating poor youngsters and helping them live better lives. Saint John Bosco used teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, known as the "preventive system." "I do not remember to have used formal punishment; and with God's grace I have always obtained, and from apparently hopeless children, not alone what duty exacted, but what my wish simply expressed." (Saint John Bosco, 1887) "Frequent confession, frequent communion, daily Mass: these are the pillars which should sustain the whole edifice of education," Saint John Bosco wrote. – VVP, GMANews.TV 
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