4143(I)_Welcome to Tokyo 2017 – EAO Congress of Salesian Cooperators!

4143(I)_Welcome to Tokyo 2017 – EAO Congress of Salesian Cooperators!

Together – Come – For the Young!

September 26, 2016

By Fr. Václav Klement, SDB

Tokyo, Japan, 24 September 2016 -- Ten members of the JOC (Japan Organizing Committee) for the 2017 EAO and Japan Provincial Council of the Salesiani Cooperatori gathered in Yotsuya SDB provincial house in Tokyo in the afternoon of September 24 for the second time with Mr. Philip Yu (World Councilor for the EAO region). Fr. Mario Yamanouchi, SDB provincial and the EAO Regional Councilor Fr. Klement were also present.

Seven months before the 9th EAO Regional Congress (Theme: Together – Come – For the Young) was discussed in depth the program of the Congress with one parallel Youth program. About 200 Salesian Cooperators and their delegates from Japanese and other 21 EAO countries are expected to join this triennial event. The highlight of the Congress would be a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Mt. Fuji with a promise of numerous new members as well the final sending Eucharist of all participants. World Coordinator Mrs. Noemi Bertola is expected to join the Congress.

Beyond the logistic and other preparation of the four day EAO regional event in Keio Hotel next May 7 – 10, the participants deepen with enthusiasm a lot of very interesting issues about visibility, communication, communion and vocation attraction:

  1. How to enhance the visibility of the Salesian Cooperators: being more present in the digital world (because of the young people, of Don Bosco and to link better to other youth oriented Catholic or Youth service centered civil organizations (NGO, NPO). Invite the local bishop to preside the Mass for the Cooperators and be humbly available for the needs of the local Church in the parishes is another way.

  2. Main aim of the EAO Congress preparation is to reply and live happily every day the call of God, the call of Don Bosco, to foster the communion within the Salesian Cooperators and within the Salesian Family (especially relating more to the Don Bosco Past Pupils and FMA Past Pupils) and trying to work together for the young people in need.

  3. In the context of small numbers in Catholic parishes the Salesian Cooperators vocation could be shared by attraction of more lively Christian life spirituality. Philip Yu underlined: ‘We have more chance to go to heaven. It’s not about doing something more, but living more joyfully!’

Rather busy day of meetings was crowned with a debrief session of the 2016 DBVG (Don Bosco Volunteer Group) summer experience in Solomon Islands, also assisted by DBVG support group of Salesian Cooperators and Mr. Philip Yu. Eight young people shared the fruits of strong transforming experience of enriching friendship with Tetere RTC students and their future dreams.

The Salesiani Cooperatori (Salesian Cooperators in Japan version) have now 132 members in 11 local centers with some 20 Aspirants in formation. We pray for their growth in communion and effective apostolic presence among the young people of Japan!