austraLasia 1047
Japan: Second Salesian Spirituality Seminar
focuses on Oratory and biblical themes
second session to be offered in Oita region
TOKYO: 23rd February 2005 -- The second Salesian
Spirituality Seminar for the Salesian Family in Japan has just concluded. Fr.
Michael Shinjiro Urata sdb and Sr. Maria Ko Ha Fong fma were the two main
speakers in their respective fields of specialisation.
Fr.Urata, shared his Masters
Thesis from UPS; The dynamics of spiritual life in some of Don Bosco's
writings compared with what St Francis de Sales indicates in his 'Philothea' (La
dinamica della vita spirituale in alcuni scritti biografici di Don Bosco a
confronto con quella indicata da San Francesco di Sales nella"Filotea"),
explaining contemporary historical studies on Don Bosco. He insisted that what
we need most for a better understanding of Salesian Spirituality is to live
the spirituality of the Oratory sharing creatively with the young in our various
settings . And he introduced "The Memoirs of the Oratory" as a prime and
significant source in order to know how Don Bosoc felt, thought and
lived.
Sr. Maria Ko shared her
biblical expertise to enlighten participants as to how to savour the
Word of God and Lectio Divina in an Asian way through a Salesian
approach. As she explained, Asians tend to reach the message and meaning of
the Bible not as definitions and logic but as images. She introduced Mary our Mother as the Living
Bible who comptemplates and lives the word of God and she also shared the
wisdom of Lectio Divina through her own witness of life and her deep
reflection on the Bible.
More than hundred
participants from Salesian sisters, Caritas sisters, Cooperators and Salesians
took part in the three day seminar held in Akabane, Tokyo. This year
Salesian Sisters were in charge of the seminar and hosted the
participants in their Seibi Junior College at Akabane. Young
seminarians, novices and postulants from the Salesian Family gathered to
brush up on their understanding of Salesian Spirituality and lto learn from
the experts.
There will be a re-run of the
seminar content in Oita for the Salesian Family in the Kyushu area. This
runs from 24th to 26th February.
