austraLasia 897
(Re #896: Those with a better knowledge of Japanese than
the writer indicate that 'Gakuen' describes a Social Welfare Institution
while 'Gakuin' describes a Scholastic Institution. Apologies to the
Japanese for that error!)
Caritas Sisters conclude General Chapter: New
Mother General and Council
TOKYO: 2nd October '04 -- The 1100 member Caritas Sisters,
with foundations in 7 countries in the EAO region as well as in Europe, South
America and the USA, have concluded their 12th General Chapter, held at Tokyo
throughout the month of September.
The Caritas Sisters, also known as Caritas Sisters of
Miyazaki, were founded in 1937 by Salesian Fr Anthony Cavoli on the strong
advice of Mons. Vincent Cimatti. Fr Cavoli had already formed a group of
women who visited the poor and the sick and ran a hostel for orphans and the
aged. They became an Institute of Pontifical Right in 1998.
The theme of the 12th General Chapter was 'New Wine into
New Skins'. It was a 'renewal' Chapter. The Chapter elected a new
Mother General and 5 new Councillors. The new Mother General is Sister
Apollinaris (the former Vicar). Moderators at the Chapter were two - one
Japanese, one Korean, and the President was a Visitor provided by the
Congregation for Consecrated Life. A Korean Bishop, Bishop Kang Woo Il,
was facilitator for the Chapter.
The Caritas Sisters'
membership comprises roughly 50% Japanese and 50% Koreans. They
now have their first vocations from Peru and Brasil and aspirants from the
Philippines and Vietnam. One of the important elements of the recently
completed Chapter was to further plumb their charismatic roots - their Salesian
spirituality. The Sisters consider the Sacred Heart of Jesus as their
supreme Protector and the core of their spirituality, and they see the love of
the Sacred Heart shining through the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and the
practice of Don Bosco's Preventive System. Mons. Cimatti, called a Co-founder of the group, and whose cause for
Beatification is in process, is an important source of their
spirituality.
_________________________
'austraLasia' is
an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific. It functions
also as an agency for ANS, based in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com. Did you know that the term
'Pia', once used to describe the Salesian Society, was never official but
sometimes used by Don Bosco to distinguish his 'Society' from other, less
salubrious societies. The term was dropped definitively from Salesian
reference in 1925. For
further comment cf Lexisdb
