1344 Tokyo Salesio Gakuen (Social work institution) Korea visit
austraLasia 1344
Tokyo Salesio Gakuen (Social work institution) Korea
visit
An exercise in communication in EAO
TOKYO: 2nd December 2005 -- In a series of four separate
visits lasting from September to November, Tokyo Salesio Gakuen staff
have visited similar Salesian social work institutions in Korea.
The visits were facilitated with the assistance of the Korean
Provincial Fr Paul Hwang, and Sr Orsolina Kim FMA, as well as many
Salesian confreres in Korea. Three Salesian confreres from Japan
accompanied the staff: Fr Noguchi who is the Rector at Tokyo Salesio
Gakuen, Fr Muramatsu, and Fr Tamura.
The participants in the visits have highly valued
their experience. Their report reads thus: "The Korean staff
numbers are smaller than in Japan's similar institutions, but they show
such dedication. We have really learned from them the Salesian
spirit of service for poor young people. Despite a difference of
culture and circumstance we shared common feelings - we are all daily
dealing with boys who are out of control, and struggling with those
difficulties. Four separate visits must have been a problem for
the Koreans but each time the confrere were wonderful; the people were
so warm and hospitable. They brought us by car to many places,
translated between Japanese and Korean, and arranged a special dinner
for us at the end of each tour".
This contact between the Japanese and Korean
provinces has another element to it. Fifty years ago, the Korean
Salesian presence was an offshoot from Japan. Now Japan is
reaping some beautiful fruit from that early 'planting'.
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