austraLasia #2639 Doctor Maeda: a wonderful, generous benefactor
KAWASAKI: 7 May 2010 -- Thirty six years have slipped beneath
the bridges of life's stream since that distant April 1974, when the
Salesian aspirantate opened in Kawasaki. Fr Franco Nakagaki, who died
in 1999, was the Rector and Fr Loro Piana, a newly-ordained priest, was
the assistant, but from the outset there was one person, the devoutly
Christian Dr Thomas Maeda Norihisa, who in so many ways made himself
present to the aspirantate through his affection and collaboration.
The Saint Marianna Hospital was built in the 60s
under his direction. Today it holds more than one thousand beds, and
nearby is the University of Medicine, preparing future doctors with a
program which also includes the study of Christian thinking.
Dr Maeda organised a fervent group of faithful in
the Parish at Saginuma. They have continued to help the aspirantate
both spiritually and materially. The vast majority of young confreres
in this Province come through the Kawasaki aspirantate and all of them
gratefully recall not just the happy suppers at Dr Maeda's home, but
also and especially his warm words of encouragement.
On Saturday 5 May, a childrens feast day in Japan,
around twenty young priests and brothers wanted to come together in the
church at Saginuma (Kawasaki) to express their gratitude to their great
benefactor Dr Maeda who has already passed his 90th birthday’, but who
continues to pray for and help the aspirants
During the Mass celebrated by the Provincial Fr Aldo
Cipriani, the principal of Yokohama Salesian School Fr Daniel Torigoe
gave a very warm homily, recalling that he was one of the first seven
boys to enter the new aspirantate as a student in 1974.
A solemn but fraternal agape followed, during which
the main personage, along with his wife, could not hide his surprise at
such a warm and unexpected show of gratitude.
Thank you Dr Maeda and ad multos annos. _________________ AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com
.
Use Bosconet-wiki
to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on
austraLasia
2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser
address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO blog Cetera Tolle. Avail
yourself of the Salesian
Digital
Library
at http://sdl.sdb.org
