austraLasia #2864 Japan's DBVG completes twenty years
TOKYO: 31 May 2011 -- A ceremony to commemorate
the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Don Bosco
Overseas Young Volunteer Group (DBVG) took place in the
parish hall at Chofu (Tokyo) on Saturday 28 May 2011.
Almost two hundred people took part, mostly
youths, but including many adults involved in one or other
program run by the movement.
The event began with a greeting from the
Provincial, Fr Aldo Cipriani, followed by an Presentation
showing the 20 years of DBVG's history. its founder,
Bishop Francis Mizobe Osamu, bishop emeritus of Takamatsu,
was unable to be present but 'appeared' via a video
recording. Moderated by Fr Mickey Muramatsu, provincial
secretary, a round-table conference took place between three
young volunteers and Fr Achille Loro Piana, who was
responsible for the DBVG group fro 9 years of its history.
The Mass was well prepared and in his homily,
Fr Daniel Torigoe, Principal of Salesian High
School,Yokohama, kept the group happy telling of his
adventures with the volunteers in Cebu and Mindanao
(Philippines) during the 1990s.
And of course there was a delicious fraternal agape
for the young volunteers many of whom had not seen each
other again over the years. It was a typically Salesian
festive occasion.
Over the 20 years, 229 youth and 39 leaders
have taken part at least once (many more often) as part of a
good 40 volunteer groups especially in Papua New Guinea,
Solomon Islands and the Philippines.
One feature of the DBVG is that its members,
most of them not baptised, carry out a volunteer experience
in a Christian and Salesian context, an evangelising
experience which allows them to come into contact with Jesus
and his teachings.
Long live DBVG: Congratulations and “ad multo
annos”! _________________ AustraLasia
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