austraLasia #3204
Japan: Ordination to diaconate
CHOFU, TOKYO: 11 March 2013 -- Japan
Province was celebrating on 9 March this year.
At the Salesian seminary in Tokyo, Chofu, the Rectors held
their
regular Rectors' meeting, and in the early afternoon, 1.30
p.m. Francis
Okamoto Daijiro was ordained deacon by Bishop James Koda,
auxiliary
bishop, Tokyo.
Some thirty Salesian priests concelebrated and at least two
hundred
faithful were in attendance, many of them members of the
Salesian
Family.
After the simple but moving ceremony the new deacon and the
ordaining
bishop were presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. A
resounding
applause broke out as deacon Okamoto offered the flowers to
his mother.
The bishop gave his bouquet to the new deacon's father!
Naturally there
was opportunity to fellowship afterwards and a substantial
afternoon
tea.
The new deacon was baptized when he was 14 and came to know
the
Salesians after his university studies where he had
specialised in
Indian philosophy. He actually made his novitiate and first
vows in
Samoa, belonging to the Australia-Pacific Province.
In April, deacon Okamoto will begin is final year of
Licentiate in
theology at the Sofia University run by Jesuits in Tokyo.
Thanking people, deacon Okamoto spoke frequently of 'serving',
emphasising that his role as a deacon is to serve others, to
always be
of benefit to his neighbour.
We wish him a busy and fruitful time as deacon and a fine
preparation
for priesthood.
