austraLasia 1101
Salesio Kosen: a new name amongst Tokyo's
schools!
TOKYO: 4th April 2005 -- The new school year
began 1st April in Japan, and with it an entirely new Salesian school, or rather
an entirely transfigured and relocated entity once known as Salesian Polytechnic
at Suginami, but now in its new location at Tama
Sakai.
The new scholastic year for Salesio Kosen,
as it will be referred to, began with a meeting of all teaching staff. The
day was prepared by the new youth ministry team comprising a chaplain, as he
will be known from now on, and some of the Catholic teachers at the
institution.
Given that most of the teachers are not
Catholic, the day began with a brief practice for the religious events,
including the learning of some hymns; this followed by the Eucharist celebrated
by Bishop Mizobe with commentary by Fr Kojima the new chaplain.
An especially moving moment was at the
prayers of the faithful when the teachers responsible for the 20 different class
groups lit candles and prayed for the students entrusted to them. In fact
the whole idea of such a prayerful beginning to the new institution came from
the teachers themselves, anxious that Salesio Kosen begins under divine
protection.
Bishop Mizobe gave a conference to the
staff following the Mass, where he emphasized a secure future if this Salesian
Polytechnic develops the educational values to be found in Don Bosco's
preventive system, especially the importance of religion. This was a task
not just for Salesians and priests in particular, but for all involved, he
said.
Japan's Provincial, Fr Puppo, spoke to the
group in the afternoon, reminding them of the importance of building the
educative community. The principal, Fr Tanaka, then presented the
educational plan for the term.
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Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based
in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com and Lexisdb
