3874_The sharing of our journey in the Spirit
Good Night Talk given by Sr. Teresia Furuki
January 17, 2016By Sr. Teresia Furuki Ryoko, SCG
Caritas Sisters of Jesus (SCG) Superior General
Rome, Italy, 16 January 2016 - The third day of the 34th Salesian Family Spirituality Days in Rome is characterized by the sharing of our journey in the Spirit and looking for some concrete action in the adventure of the Holy Spirit according the Strenna.
From the early morning (music video guided prayer by Fr. Fabio Pasqualetti) are many Salesians SDB, FMA, Salesian Cooperators, Hogares Don Bosco (Bosconian style of Family Movement from Spain).
At the end of the day after the Group workshop, Eucharist and Dinner there will be the only Good Night Talk given not by the Rector Major but by Sr. Teresia Furuki, the recently elected Superior General of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus.
Good evening to all!
First of all, I would like to thank Rector Major Fr.Angel for giving me a chance to say a word during this special occasion. I was so touched when Fr. Jose Pastor Ramirez contacted me immediately after the General Chapter last September to ask me to give the Buona Notte during this seminar. Despite being a small member of the Salesian family, he considered us for this role. I appreciate very much his kindness and consideration; yet I was also very frightened imagining myself standing in front of all of you in this grand hall.
Tonight I would like to share a personal experience in Japan instead of speaking as a representative of our congregation.
I was assigned in the Philippines in 1992 and stayed there for 12 years. When I returned to Japan in 2004, I realized that the Japanese people need much more serious care than the Filipino people. They seemed to be like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless (Matthew 9, 36). About thirty thousand people commit suicide in a year. Despite the actions taken by the Japanese government and many religious groups to save lives, there is not much improvement in the suicide rate.
I believe that this problem is rooted in the closed character of the people and the society of Japan. The Japanese enjoy privacy. Yet this very “privacy” causes people to be isolated from each other. Those who are in need do not go to the streets. And definitely, they will not come to see you (to ask help). Usually, they just stay inside their rooms and shut themselves off even from their family members. This is the problem that you can not easily reach those who are seriously in need. They are hidden.
One day, I got to know of a young girl who died of AIDS. She was a typical teenager, a sort of juvenile delinquent, and would go out a lot with her friends in the evenings. One night, she was raped by a group of boys. After this, she just gave up her future because she thought she is now dirty. She also started prostituting herself, which led her to contract AIDS and she died very young.
I wished to say to the young people in similar situations – “You are not dirty!” “Never give up your life!” But, how can I see them? So I composed a song entitled “Inochi” meaning “Life”. While I was composing this song, I also thought about the other children who do not even feel grateful for their own lives. It is not rare in Japan to hear children say “I should never have been born!” or “No one will be sad even if I die!”
Let me share with you the lines of the song:
Life is so precious, because it is the only one in the world.
Life is so beautiful, because God made it full of love.
Life is so lovable because it is you; it is your life.
You have your father; you have your mother; you have your family, and others too.
You were born there in their midst, never alone.
And we will all protect your gift of life.
Should your heart or your body get hurt, your life is still your gift. It will never change. It will always shine beautifully.
Live! Live! I beg you to live and never give up your irreplaceable life!
Somehow this song became known little by little and it seems that it also reached those who are in need. A man who repeatedly attempted suicide heard this song in a bookstore and he wrote me to tell me he is still alive.
There are many forms of evangelization. I believe music is one of the best instruments to tell others of God’s love, especially in non-Christian environments, such as in Japanese society. Music can touch the heart of people, even those who refuse to believe in God. And now, even if I am here in Rome, the song “Inochi” continues to evangelize people in Japan. It is now being sung by adult choirs, children in schools and kindergarten, most of them are non-Catholic. Is this not a wonder, that those singing the song, despite being non-Catholics, are actually evangelizers in their own way? God is so truly gracious and I am very happy that He has made this song an instrument of evangelization in this way.
Now, I would like you to listen to the song.
I hope this will be a fitting lullaby that will lead you all to a peaceful and restful sleep. Singing is praying, and we thank God for the gift of life for each one of us.
Thank you very much and Good night!
