5310(II)_Don Bosco Celebration in Yokohama - Japan

February 05, 2020

By Salesio Gakuin
Social Communication
Yokohama - Japan

Yokohama, Japan, 4 February 2020 -- The traditional Don Bosco Festival was held on 31 January 2020, and we celebrated the anniversary of our Founder and Father with the whole school educative and pastoral community of 'Salesio Gakuin' (Salesian High School). This year the celebration of Don Bosco was divided in two parts - first the whole assembly learnt about life and mission of Don Bosco, then followed the report of the recent Christmas street fundraising for South Sudan youth. And the first part concluded with an interview with Sr Bosco (Caritas Sister of Jesus) who works in Juba, South Sudan mission, among the refugees in this war-torn country. In this way all students and educators were able to experience the real Salesian solidarity spirit in action.

Then followed the second part - Mass (Eucharistic celebration) of Saint John Bosco, the Founder of the Salesian Family. The main celebratnt for the Mass, held in Salesio Gakuin theatre (hall) was Yokohama Bishop Rafael Umemura Masahiro. Bishop Umemura invited the students of this Catholic school to become adults who appreciate and understand the gift of freely give love that God has shown us through Jesus towards the people marginalized in our society, like Don Bosco did.

As you can see from the photos, many students were involved with their music contribution to the liturgy, with their commentator and guidance as well assisting the two concelebrating priests as altar servers. The Yokohama Salesian High School has more than 1100 students (Rector and Principal Fr. Torigoe) and the students, including the Kato-ken (Catholic group students - although many of them are 'not yet' Catholics, animated by the pastoral moderator Fr. Enomoto) members contributed to the dynamic animation of the religious school activities of the whole school educative and pastoral community.