TOKYO: 17th December 2005 --
Today, on a cold December 17th, at the Salesian Parish in Himonya, the
Archbishop of Tokyo, Peter Okada, ordained two Salesians as priests.
They are Fr. Joseph Nakada and Fr. Maximillian Enomoto. Fr. Joseph
finished his theology in Rome and upon returning has been working as
assistant to the aspirants in Yokohama. Fr. Enomoto was still a
seminarian when he was sent to the Paranaque, Philippines, to have a
year of English study and pastoral exposure. It was there where he was
also ordained deacon early this year. This year's priestly ordination
proved to be different from the past ordinations in several respects:
a) Not only was Archbishop Okada present, but also the Bishop of
Yokohama, Most. Rev. Rafael Umemura. Fr. Nakada's hometown, Kofu,
located at the foot of the famous Mt. Fuji, is also part of the
4-Prefecture Yokohama Diocese. During the toast, Bishop Umemura
explained the reason for his presence: that he promised to attend Fr.
Nakada's ordination, the latter being the fourth Salesian to be
ordained from his diocese during his time as bishop. The famous
Salesian Gakuen is also located in Yokohama, where there are 11
aspirants in residence.
b)Since Fr. Enomoto is still taking up pastoral courses in Don Bosco
Center of Studies in Paranaque, the rector of the Seminaryo ng Don
Bosco, Rev. Fr. Danilo Torres, was also present for the ordination.
c) A bus load of parishioners and friends from Kofu attended the
ordination. Kofu Church is around 3 hours away from Himonya Church.
In his homily, Archbishop Okada exhorted the new
priests to be good shepherds, always following the example the Good
Shepherd Himself, who not only takes care of the weak, lost, confused
and lowly in their own flock, but also has concern for those who are
not yet part of this flock. He also echoed Pope Benedict XVI's message
of being an oasis in this "desert" world and in the "desert" of the
hearts of many young people in Japanese society today.
The Provincial, Fr. Orlando Puppo, thanked all those
who were instrumental in the call of Fr. Nakada and Fr. Enomoto,
starting from their families, right up to their present communities. He
reminded everyone that greeting them and the Congregation with
"Congratulations" entails the need to share this wonderful grace of new
priests in the Congregation and in the Church.
Fr. Nakada's thank you speech was also a request of
prayers from everybody present that they, today's "new spouses of the
Church" may always be faithful leaders and workers in the Catholic
Church of Japan and for the young in their Salesian life.
A simple dinner and program featuring some members of the Salesian
Family was held after the ordination mass as a tribute to the new
priests.
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