MACHIDA CITY, Tokyo: January 31, 2005 --  The newly built Salesian Polytechnic School was blessed this morning by the Provincial, Rev. Fr. Orlando Puppo, together with Fr. Aldo Cipriani, Provincial Economer and Chairman of the Board, Fr. Bautista Massa, the Rector of the present Ikuei School in Suginami and Fr Paolo Tanaka, Principal. 
    Of the more than a hundred people who attended, there were Salesians, former and present teachers, school personnel, representatives of the parents and alumni, the Miyazaki Caritas Sisters (who led the assembly with songs for the blessing) and the Notre Dame Sisters, whose dormitory will house the female students.  Representatives of the TAISEI Corporation, the construction company who built the school, plus many of their workers were also present for the event, mainly as guides and ushers during the blessing of the school. 
    In his homily, Fr. Puppo reiterated the importance of the need to be conscious of the Salesian style of
education, the education to true responsibility and love -- that which would truly differentiate the
school from the other polytechnic schools in Japan.
    Fr. Puppo further emphasized that over and above the edifice, the educational encounter between teacher and student, human communion, the valuing of the future and kindness are the real treasures of a Salesian school.  He also asked the cooperation of all to further pursue the goals of Don Bosco even if the Salesians working in the school are becoming fewer.
    Fr. Puppo concluded by reminding everybody that even if the new buildings truly hold people in awe and lost for words, the beauty of the new school grounds and the buildings must remind everybody that the real building of God is the YOUNG, because He lives in them.  For him, it was for this matter that the new school was built.
    SALESIO (pronounced as SA-RE-JIO, the Japanese way of calling Salesian presences) will take over the former name, IKUEI, the pre-war name imposed by the Japanese Government of the time.  A few minutes after exiting the nearest train station, one can see its imposing white structure, with its beautiful design, complemented by the dove-like roof of the School Chapel together with its tall cross in front.  Gardens may also be found in between the 2 parallel corridors on the 2nd floor.  The new campus finally accommodates projects and works that the school has come to have through the years, like the workshop for making robots and solar or battery-operated vehicles, more rooms to accommodate sports needs, a synthetic field and oval, a Salesianity Library, a new dormitory, and a canteen that allows anyone to have a good view of games on both sides-- the gymnasium and the soccer field.
    Unending gratitude was the pervading spirit of the day, especially to all those who have worked hard to
actualise this project.  And as this school opens in April with the new school year and a new school name,
Salesio Polytechnic staff members ask all readers to say a special prayer for them that those mentioned by Fr. Provincial in his talk may truly be actualised in each day's experience of education.

____________________________