The Sanctuary of St John Bosco in Brasilia, which belongs to the St John Bosco Province of Belo Horizonte Brazil (BBH), receives tourists from many countries on a daily basis, offering them the enchantment of contemplation and favouring the elevation of their thoughts to God, thanks to the sparkling blue stained-glass windows and the atmosphere of prayer that favour this experience.
Built in 1963 and opened on 23 May 1970, it was officially elevated to the status of a shrine on 27 August 2017, and since then the Salesian community has been working even harder to spread the importance and significance of this sacred temple to the locals.
The modern and Gothic architecture at the same time, the numerous sacred images, the liturgical activities, the offering of the sacraments, music concerts, youth vigils, provincial formation, the youth camp in August, gatherings of altar servers groups and Salesian Missionary Youth, are all offered by the shrine as experiences of encounter with God. And indeed, such an encounter takes place daily for thousands of faithful and devotees who attend it, as well as for the various presidents, ambassadors, and local civil, ecclesiastical and military authorities who visit it in festive circumstances, as it is also an international point of reference.
With the gift by the Salesian Congregation, in 2017, of the casket containing the relic of Don Bosco's radius bone from his right arm - a replica of the one in Turin with the remains of Don Bosco in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians - the shrine has achieved a remarkable, further growth in veneration by the faithful who pass through the shrine, as well as a growing consensus among devotees and pilgrims who are passionate about Don Bosco.
The crypt built and dedicated to St John Bosco has become a special place of veneration and prayer for the Salesian Family and devotees for the intercession of the Father and Teacher of Youth.
Finally, due to his historical importance for the Church and his prophetic dream of 1883, Don Bosco is liturgically celebrated as the secondary patron of the Archdiocese of Brasilia. Without a doubt, Don Bosco's prophetic dream associated with Brazil and the construction of the capital between the 15th and 20th parallels will continue to mark the generations. In 2024, the Shrine received the UPIS (Union Pioneer for Social Integration) award for Religious Tourism in Brasilia. This is a recognition for the reception, evangelisation and strong positioning of Religious Tourism in Brazil's federal capital.
Fr João Carlos André, SDB,
Rector and Parish Priest of the Shrine
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/23268-rmg-shrines-dedicated-to-the-father-and-teacher-of-young-people-the-don-bosco-shrine-in-brasilia#sigProId1aef4955e2
