BEPPU (Japan): 5th January '05 -- The death occurred today in Beppu of Fr Ludovit Suchan, a Slovak Salesian who spent most of his Salesian life as a missionary in Japan.  Fr Suchan was born in the then Czechoslovakia on 25th September 1921.  He escaped that country in 1949 after his ordination.  He then left for Japan.

    For half of his missionary life, Fr Suchan worked in formation at Chofu, Tokyo.  The remaining half was spent as a missionary within the missions - in the Oita Diocese.  He was a true animator in the fullest Salesian sense of that word - musician (especially the band), theatre, and an optimist,  In fact there were many aspects so characteristic of his mentor Mons. Cimatti, that it was no surprise that after the announcement in May 2004 that he was suffering from cancer, the Province was asked by the Provincial to pray to the Venerable Cimatti for his return to health.  That prayer at least gave Fr Suchan the courage to retain his optimism and strong faith to the end.

    Fr Suchan had early on gained his licentiate in Canon Law, skills which he brought to his tasks as a formator, but also when he was asked to take on parish ministry in Oita (Akeno).  There he gave great support to the Neo-catechumenal Movement, at the request of the Bishop, convinced that in Japan, as elsewhere, there was need for a new approach, a bit of risk even, to ensure that the baptised were also the evangelised.  Fr Suchan was convinced that the young, Salesian Cooperators, and even Salesian confreres had much to gain from a 'catechumenate' that applied to themselves in the first instance.  Despite criticisms of the Movement, he argued that Salesians would do well to study its approach and its good points, to learn what could apply in their own approach to evangelisation.