TOKYO: 15th November 2004 -- With more than half of his flock made up of migrant Catholics, the Archbishop of Tokyo is understandably concerned that this issue be amongst his most prominent priorities (along with the epidemic proportions of counselling needs for people suffering depression and other mental afflictions, and diocesan restructuring into pastoral units).  He finds the Salesians to be able and involved contributors.

    There are approximately 10 Salesians directly contributing to migrant ministry, not just in the Tokyo Archdiocese.  Since the larger number of Catholic immigrants are Spanish, Portuguese (Brasilian), Filipino, English and Vietnamese speaking, Salesians with these languages are contributing.  One, Fr John Sakai, a Japanese who also speaks English and Tagalog fluently, is involved with the Tokyo Archdiocesan Migrant Commission and the so-called Catholic Tokyo International Centre (CTIC), one of 10 diocesan social care and pastoral centres ministering to migrant workers.

    The Salesians also provide a number of specific services in addition to the involvement of personnel: the Don Bosco Sha (Publishing House) in Tokyo publishes a range of catechetical materials and prayers in various languages; Filipino-Japanese young people are able to attend annual summer camps run by the Salesians; there is a formation programme for leaders of migrant youth, be it for camps, Masses, catechesis or other events; Salesians contribute to the CTIC monthly newsletter and Salesian Parish churches are made available for migrant Masses and gatherings, especially in Tokyo, Yokohama but elsewhere as well.

    As has been the case in other parts of the world, the Salesian work with migrants can also be a source of vocations.  Fr Michael Lap has worked for over ten years with the Vietnamese migrant community in Tokyo and a number of other centres.  There are currently seven vocations stemming from this work, most of them aspirants, but one already at prenovitiate stage and one in the postnovitiate.