Christmas time in the Salesian parish of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka prefecture - Japan, this year was in a sign of farewell to the founder, very committed and creative Brasilian missionary Fr. Evaristo Higa (67). The SDB community (rector Fr. Angel Yamanouchi) and the multicultural parish community expressed from heart to heart their gratitude to their founder. Especially the members of the volunteer group 'Esperanca' will miss their founder on their weekly Saturday night service to the Hamamatsu homeless people!

Fr. Evaristo Higa lived in Hamamatsu city since 1993 trying to set up a meaningful mission of the large number of Brasilian-Japanese Catholic migrants in this industrial city of industries like Suzuki, Yamaha and many others. Strarting from scratch - simply lived in an apartment close to the Brasilian migrant district, celebrating the Mass, attending to the needs of the migrants and their families, visiting prisons, collaborating with the Brasilian consulate - a true Salesian 'factotum', front line missionary until 2001, when the parish was slowly entrusted to the Salesians, then in 2007 other Salesian confreres moved in and finally in 2010 the new pastoral center close to the parish was blessed by Yokohama bishop Raphael Umemura. During past 10 years Hamamatsu intercultural parish community became a point of reference for the migrant ministry at diocesan and national level.

During past 23 years the missionary presence of Fr. Higa brought many fruits. Few times he returned to his home province of Sao Paolo in Brazil (BSP) to recharge his 'batteries'. Amidst various difficulties Fr. Evaristo was looking for a possible successor. Finally since last February 2016 one young confrere from Timor Leste, Fr. Ambrosio Da Silva, is being prepared to take his place: after initial period in Hamamatsu was send to Brazil for an intensive Portuguese language and missionary course and after few months of intense Japanese language course in Tokyo will be assigned to Hamamatsu in 2017.

We pray that admirable example of Fr. Higa will wake up many more Salesians to follow the path of missionary life among the young people in need that brings a deep joy.

Muito obrigado Padre Higa! - Thank you very much!

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