4167_Welcome to Japan 2020

Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and 12th EAO regional congress of Salesian Family Past Pupils

October 16, 2016

By Mr. Tateishi
Secretary of the Japan Federation of Don Bosco Past Pupils

Tokyo, Japan, 16 October 2016 -- At the conclusion of the EAO Regional Congress in Dili, Timor Leste the World President Mr. Michal Hort announced the next venue for the 2020 in Japan, the only Asia-Oceania Federation that didn't yet host this regional event. During last Board meeting (October 15) of the Japan Federation of Don Bosco Alumni, chaired by President Mr. Hiroshi Yoshida in the presence of SDB Provincial Fr. Mario Yamanouchi, the hosting was officially accepted.

At present the Federation of DB Alumni Japan, launched last April 2016, is composed by 5 Alumni Centers of Salesian Schools: Tokyo - Salesio Gakuin: elementary and junior high; Yokohama - Salesio Gakuin: junior and senior high; Tokyo Salesio Polytechnic; Osaka - Seiko Gakuin and Miyazaki - Hyuga Gakuin. More than 4100 students and 45.000 graduates during past 80 years.

The Federation Board meeting was held in Tokyo-Kodaira Salesian Gakuin (the youngest among the 5 schools) with a participation of 23 Past Pupils of Don Bosco, one representant of Past Pupils of Mary Help of Christians (Unione), SDB Provincial, Provincial Delegate for DB Alumni (Fr. Suzuki Masao) and Youth Ministry Delegate (Fr. Shin Mishima) and EAO Regional Councilor SDB. Very significant was a presence of good number of GEX (Young Alumni) from different schools.

During a rich sharing about the past semester activities of each Alumni Center (gatherings, newsletter, fundraising) and give a large space for sharing of 7 participants in the recent 11th EAO Regional Congress in Dili, Timor Leste. For all participants it was a wonderful opportunity of learning about their Association, getting know the new World President and 7 priorities of the Alumni in the world. Then followed an open discussion about the acceptance of hosting the next 12th EAO Congress in 2020. Pondering on the challenges and difficulties connected with such international event in high cost country like Japan, the Alumni leadership reached a consensus to take it as meaningful opportunity to grow in communion among the members, to grow in openness towards the Salesian world. So Japan Salesian Family accepted a second EAO regional event - after the 2017 EAO Congress of Salesian Cooperators (Tokyo, May 7-10).

In the business part of the meeting were deepen some concrete points like DB Alumni badge (made in Japan), contribution to the starting Don Bosco Mission Office (SDB). After the official meeting continued an open dinner with presence of the Tokyo - Kodaira SDB community present and past member - all of them Don Bosco Alumni! At that occasion were showed and tasted many fruits of the EAO Congress in Timor.

At level of animation all participants did pray together for the first time the Japan version of the "Prayer - Promise" of Don Bosco Alumni (adjusted from the World Confederation Statutes art. 5b):

"We, Salesian Past Pupils
Share the desire to be an honest person
Who gives oneself to own family, society and to the world
As a mature person of good will and a good citizen.

We want to give our best to others
Always and at any time,
With strong will and righteous heart.

May we uphold Don Bosco's teachings
And always as the light of the world
Live together with children and youth."