austraLasia #2259
Japan's national festivities create vocational fervour
opportunity
CHOFU: 23rd September 2008 -- The Autumn Equinox in Japan,
celebrated on 23rd September, is both a national feast (established
1948 to commemorate ancestors but in fact also harking back to times of
emperor worship long ago) and this year an occasion for Salesian
aspirants to celebrate with their formators and the provincial at Chofu.
The Japan Province has three aspirantates: one at
Yokohama, a second at Yokkaichi (between them 16 and 22 aspirants
respectively, from middle and upper secondary school level) and a third
at Chofu with 7 aspirants pursuing university studies. This is a
respectable number for a nation where Christians are few in number
comparatively speaking (though interestingly enough the newly appointed
prime minister will be a Catholic).
Following Don Bosco means walking on roses with
hidden thorns, so not all succeed on the journey, but it is a fact that
most of the young confreres of the Japanese Province have come through
the classic aspirantate model for young students.
The vocations festive celebration saw all the
aspirants come together for a Mass and some important space for prayer,
followed by an enthusiastic football competition and then a
fraternal meal.
The formators firmly believe that the enthusiasm of
this occasion reinforces the zeal and courage to follow Jesus along the
sometimes prickly path noted in Don Bosco's famous dream.
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Title: australasia 2259
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces GIA aspirants
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2259
