Two important feasts celebrated at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in the same day. Saint John Bosco and the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
On Sunday (February 2, 2020), at 10:30 am, a Eucharistic Celebration took place at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Istanbul. The celebration was led by Bishop Mgr Ruben Tierrablanca who was accompanied by Father Iosif Robu, Salesian superior Father Jacky Doyen, Salesian Father Nicola, Salesian Father Simon and Franciscan Father Lucian.
The choirs of both the African and Filipino faithful and the Don Bosco Family gave the feast a wonderful color with their animation.
The ritual started with a procession with candles. Bishop Tierrablanca blessed all the candles while recalling the meaning of that day. Then, with the chant of “Gloria”, everyone entered the church.
The Gospel was read by recently ordained deacon Fransua.
In his preaching, Monsignor Tierrablanca first reminded that Christ was presented at the temple: “The Lord will send His messenger to enter His temple. This messenger of salvation is Jesus, the Word of the Father, who has come down from Heaven and has become a human being. Today he is entering the temple to forgive the sins of all the people, to offer the sacrifice of forgiveness. The old Shimon who witnessed this event is at the door of the temple, and when he sees the child, he recognizes Him as the light that enlightens the people of God all over the world.”
Especially about the Day of Feast of St. John Bosco, the bishop said: “It seems to me that St. John Bosco wanted the educators to show and describe the heart of Jesus to the youth through their duties. To present themselves to the service of the smallest ones, to approach sinners as if they were members of the family in the way of reviving the holy hope of God’s forgiveness. Act without injuring any soul, neither a contemptuous look in your eyes nor an insult on your lips. ‘Only in this way,’ says Don Bosco, ‘You can make real improvement like a real father.’ One of his recommendations that impressed me the most was: ‘Remember that education is a work of heart; and only God has this heart, there is no one else who can give us this key. Only God teaches us this art.”
After the communion, all children came before the altar and were blessed one by one by Monsignor Tierrablanca.
Before the ceremony was over, Father Jacky ask all the participants to pray silently for Father Remzi Diril’s father Hürmüz and his mother Shimoni, who are missing for three weeks.
After the ritual was over, everyone was invited for a cocktail given by Don Bosco Youth group. (SAT-7 TÜRK / Nathalie Ritzmann)
