2947 SF annual celebration Japan
austraLasia #2947
Salesian Family Festivities, Japan
TOKYO (Chofu): 21 November 2011 -- The Salesian
seminary at Chofu, Tokyo, was the setting for a grand
gathering of the Salsian Family from the Kanto region (in
February next a second gathering will be held for the Family
in Kyushu). The event took place in the afternoon and
evening.
As is customary, the Salesian Family in
Japan uses such an occasion to explore the current Strenna
theme, this year a vocational one: "Come and See". The
Salesian Sisters, Caritas Sisters and the Salesians SDB
presented their respective activities in vocational
ministry, which was then followed by the celebration of the
Eucharist with Fr Aldo Cipriani, Provincial, as main
celebrant and 'head' of the Salesian Family in Japan in the
stead of the 'Father' of the Salesian Family. There were any
number of events to celebrate at this Mass: God's grace at
work in the missionary expedition of the Sisters of Charity
of Jesus, who are sending their first Sisters to build up a
permanent community in Southern Sudan and their first
presence in Africa; the official beginnings of ADMA within
the Salesian Family in Japan (17 members), and also, given
the day itself, the International Day of Childhood.
In his homily, the vice provincial, Fr
Mario Yamanouchi, who had hurried back from a meeting in
Cebu to be present, drew from the Gospel reading from the
Feast of Christ the King (from Matthew Ch 25) to encourage
the Salesian Family to see themselves called to serve the
most needy in society in the spirit of Don Bosco, and
especially in solidarity with their brothers and sisters
suffering still as a result of the tsunami and especially
the aftermath of radiation in the Fukushima Prefecture.
The third part of the day's events took
place in the Don Bosco hall at the seminary, sharing a meal
and an academy in good Salesian tradition. The new ADMA
members were presented with a hymn from the Sixth
International ADMA Conference which took place in
Czestochowa (3-6 August): "Totus tuus". Then the
Salesian Cooperators shared their experience of the 7th
Regional Assembly in Thailand. Sister Kojima Hanako FMA, a
missionary in Mongolia, sang a song written in Mongolian
which created a great sense of mutual fellowship with our
missionaries working in Mongolia. The Sisters of Charity of
Jesus shared two songs which they are offering at a benefit
concert they are giving in various cities devastated by the
tsunami on 11 March.
Mago Mickey (Fr. Muramatsu) appeared on
two occasions with his new companion, Mago Unbala
(postnovice Deep), to entertain everyone with his usual
conjuring skills as Don Bosco did amongst his own...
The event concluded with the Blessing of Mary Help of
Christians, the singing of the Ave Maria composed by
Venerable Vincent Cimatti, and a final photo. The Don Bosco
Bookshop gave everyone a 2012 Calendar featuring Blessed
John Paul II.
