1203 Tokyo's 6 SDB parishes come together to pray and to plan Salesian Family common project
austraLasia 1203

Tokyo's 6 SDB parishes come together to pray and to plan Salesian Family common project

HIMONYA: 18 July 2005 -- Yesterday the annual combined gathering of men from the six Tokyo-based Salesian parishes had a special focus - support for the new Hamamatsu Project, a Salesian outreach to immigrants from Brazil, other South American nations, Philippines.  This is a particular challenge of the Japanese Church which the Salesians have taken up as part of their overall province plan and it is to be a project of the entire Salesian Family.
    The annual gathering of dads is now in its 36th year.  Yesterday it took place at the Tokyo-Himonya parish where Fr Loro Piana is the Parish Priest.  Between them the five parishes of Tokyo proper and one from Yokohama which borders on Tokyo have pastoral care for about 10,000 Christians.  Yesterday's gathering of around 150 from the 6 parishes was an opportunity to exchange experiences, reinforce Salesian values imbibed through association with their parishes, and to plan for the future as a Salesian Family.
    On this occasion Fr Puppo, the Provincial, thanked the men for the magnificent contribution the parishes had made to the refurbishments of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin.  They had provided 20,000 euro.  He reminded them in this Year of the Eucharist, of Don Bosco's great loves:  Eucharist, Mary Help of Christians, the Pope.  But he spoke especially of the new Hamamatsu Project.  This is being led by Fr Yamanouchi, ex Parish Priest of Suginama Parish.  That parish already has a group of volunteers who with their prayers and offerings are setting out to help the new project.  The project is looked upon with great hope by the Japanese Church which is already in a situation where immigrant worker Catholics outnumber home-grown Catholics.
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