East Asia-Oceania|Province OF St. Francis Xavier GIA – Overall provincial plan 2

PROVINCE OF St. Francis Xavier

GIA – OVERALL PROVINCIAL PLAN 2004


GOD’S CALL

Members of the Salesian Province of Japan, a nation where Christians amount to not even 1% of the population, seek to respond to our vocation by by living and bringing to life Don Bosco's charism. That is, we are missionaries called to proclaim Christ to the 99% of the population whatever their ethnic origins.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　―――――――――

FUNDAMENTAL PRIORITIES FOR THE JAPAN PROVINCE

1. The confrere who lives in a Salesian community.

2. Creating an environment which allows the confrere to carry out his mission.

　１　The confrere living in a Salesian community.


All confreres’ activities should be thought through from the point of view of their vocation and mission, for which:

  1. Formation strong points.

To what has been established in the province directory for formation we add the following:

  1. Initial Formation

i Those directly responsible, the provincial and the formators, will endeavour to listen to the formation commission, to provincial councillors and to the confreres themselves.

ii During initial formation the person and role of the Salesian Brother will be clearly presented.

iii Formation is carried out in view of the future of the Province, but takes into account the abilities, attitudes and characteristics of each individual confrere.

  1. Ongoing Formation

i There will be an “Ongoing Formation Commission” set up with confreres involved on an ad hoc basis. Tthis commission will develop a practical programme to be carried out once approved by the Provincial Council and the Formation Commission.

ii Ongoing formation is to be considered a duty by confreres.

iii Ongoing formation will include human, Christian and religious aspects, and themes dealt with according to the age, work and circumstances of the conferes.

iv Translation of Saleisan study materials will be enabled and participation in courses and other events at regiona level will be encouraged.

  1. The following is requested for and from confreres and communities:

    1. Regularising communities by taking account of the number and quality of confreres.

    2. Putting greater effort into praying together, eating together as a community and spending moments sharing together.

    3. Materials to help and directives from the Ongoing Formation Commission for drawing up, within the next two years, personal life plans.

    4. Efforts to be mae to create a welcoming atmospehre for young people which will enable them to experience life together with us.



　２　Creating an environment which allows the confrere to carry out his mission.

　　　Our choices are basically aimed at educational activity for young people older youth. In a nation like Japan where there are practically no poor young people (in a material sense meaning lacking in food, clothing and a place to live) we turn our attention to young people who are subject to other forms of poverty.

Our educational work and commitment is particularly important in that it allows the Salesian to instill in young people a long term personal relationship, influences the formation of a personality permeated with the Christian spirit, and is a tool for evangelisation

The work of evangelisation in our works cannot be carried out without the cooperation of lay partners. The evangelisation of

our lay partners will be a special task of ours, to see that they understand the Salesian charism well

Our educational commitment will be made practical in the following ways:

  1. Schools:

    1. We will consider it a priority to send people there who will evangelise by educating.

    2. We will seek ways to act on behalf of poor young people.

    3. A level of financial assistance (scholarships) from Province level will be considered.

  2. Social services for the young:

In these kinds of works confreres will share their life with the young.

③　Activities other than our formal ones :

We will work with other members of the Salesian Family from the beginning of these activities. If needed, and if possible, we will collaborate with groups other than the Salesian Family.

  1. Where they are present we will work with young people in danger and those who have need of immediate assistance.

  2. Communities entrusted with aprish work will make efforts in this regard. To this end we will act such that there will be an assistant parish priest in each parish

  3. Centres and communities will be set up for this purpose according to circumstances.

  4. Work and activity will be carried out especially for young immigrants living in Japan.



REDIMENSIONING AIMED AT BEING FAITHFUL TO OUR VOCATION AND MISSION

Aims of re-dimensioning

　　Those works making Salesian community life possible will be strengthened and works where this is not possible will be handed over to other groups. Redimensioning will be carried out on the basis of results obtained from surveying the confreres.

Short term action (within 1 or 2 years)

medium term action (up to Provincial Chapter 2007)

long term action (up to Provincial Chapter 2010)


Evaluation: once a year at the assembly of confreres

twice a year at the Rectors’ meetings

three times a year in the Provincial Council.

3