austraLasia #1774

Fourth Annual Salesian Family Spirituality Seminar, Tokyo

TOKYO: 28th February 2007 -- The annual Salesian Family Spirituality Seminar in Japan is run by a different group of the SF each year.  This year it was the SDB turn.  The event was held at the Salesian Intercultural and Technological Centre (SITEC) in Sughinami, Tokyo on 16-17 February.
    The talks wsere given by different members of the Family. Sr Letizia Yuko Ohno, novice mistress for the second of two Caritas Sisters' novitiates, spoke on the theme of 'Self-realization in consecrated life and the issue of human maturity'.  Sr Ohno has completed four years of studies in Clinical Psychology, specialising in vocation and formation at the Gregorian University, Rome.  She directed her address to the importance of knowing the relationship between developmental stages of human maturity.  The talk gave rise to a number of interactions with participants.
    A lay woman, Miss Utako Tsubaki, who has recently completed her Master's thesis on French literature at Sophia University, Tokyo, spoke on 'The spiritualities of St. Francis de Sale, St Jeanne de Chantal and St. Vincent de Paul'.  She explained the connections that might be made between the spiritual giants of 17th century Europe and St. John Bosco.  Miss Tsubaki is due to continue her doctoral studies on the literature of the Saints of 17th Century europe.
    Sr Naomi Tanaka, lecturer at the Salesian Sisters' Seibi College, spoke on 'The Christian understanding of children according to St John Bosco and Souzo Kurahashi'. This latter, often termed the Japanese Friedrich Froebel, was a Japanese educationalist of the 20th century.  Sr Tanaka explained some of the similarities she sees in the two approaches and encouraged participants to discover the richness in the preventive system through the inspirations of both great educators.
    A panel discussion took place between Salesians SDB who were present at the Thai-based Salesian Spirituality Seminar last January in Bangkok.  Using a Powerpoint Presentation translated by Frs Bob Zarate and Shin Mishima, Fr Hiroki Amemiya commented on the material and insights from the seminar.
    The Tokyo seminar was repeated in Beppu, Ohita, for the Salesian Family in the Kyushu area, together with a Salesian Family gathering in the presence of Fr Orlando Puppo, provincial of Japan province.
      _________________
  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 BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm A separate service entirely is called F/OSSERVATORE to help us keep abreast of trends in the digital world.  To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.