Saint's relics welcomed during Cebu City visit

CEBU, Philippines - The relic of St. Jean Baptist De La Salle, the patron saint of Christian schoolteachers, was welcomed in Cebu City yesterday.

The relic, which is an arm bone of St. La Salle placed inside a carriage, was brought to City Hall upon the request of Mayor Michael Rama.

From City Hall, teachers and policemen carried the carriage to Basilica del Santo Niño. A Mass and veneration were later held.

Rey Martinez, founding chairman of the St. Therese Diocesan Shrine in Kalubian, Leyte, said the relic was then brought via motorcade to the USC Chapel at 7 p.m. and was opened to all teachers and students for veneration until 11 p.m.

The relic is set to be brought to Surigao del Sur today.

At 7 a.m. today, Martinez said the relic will be taken to the Mactan Air Base via motorcade. A military honor will be done for the relic before it will be taken to De La Salle John Bosco College in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, Martinez added.

The relic arrived in the country from France in observance of the centennial foundation of the De La Salle Philippines Inc. It will be visiting DLSP’s network of 17 Lasallian institutions throughout the country.

The relic’s first stop in Cebu was the Don Andres Soriano Memorial College in Lutopan, Toledo City, last November 8.

St. Jean Baptist De La Salle was a French saint who founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and is the patron saint of Christian schoolteachers.

The first Christian Brother school in the Philippines is the De La Salle College, now known as De La Salle University. It was established in June 1911 through the efforts of nine Christian brothers from Europe and the United States.  (FREEMAN)