By Fr. Gaetano Compri, SDB
Vice-postulators for Mons. Cimatti

Chofu-Tokyo, Japan, 11 Febrauary 2016 - In his annual letter to the Italian 'Friends of Don Cimatti' the Vice-postulator of the cause of our Venerable, Fr. Gaetano Compri (86 years) shares few meaningful events of this year. As usually his letter is an insert in the Photo-Calendar 2016 'Don Cimatti and Music'. Each year this calender brings some specific trait from the life and mission of Don Cimatti, through some of the 6000+ photos available.

The celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Fr. Cimatti death (2015, October 6) brought the Bishop of Faenza, Mons Mario Toso SDB to Chofu, Japan and two mayors (Chofu and Faenza) exhanges their greetings as well. Also in both places many well-wishers pray for a miracle - necessary step for the beatification of the Venerable.

Last October 11, 2015 was also performed another concert in the Chofu Hall with the presence of 800 participants. The Opera 'Hosokawa Grazia', composed by Fr. Cimatti in 1940 is based on the early Christian history of Japan. For next October 2016 a full version of this Opera in 3 Acts is scheduled for the Chofu Art Hall performance.

Italy based publisher 'Shalom' did released a new book 'Don Cimatti Maesto di Vita - cosi visse, cosi scrisse', that present the spirituality of the Italian missionary in a pleasant and simple reading.

Fr. Compri will also participate along many other Salesian vice-postulators of the causes of Saints in the Seminar next April 6-10. With his 86 years of age will be probably among the most senior members of this group. Another passion of Fr. Gaetano - his research about the Holy Shroud (La Sindone) brought a new publication in Japanese (May 2015), followed by a Korean version and soon following with a Vietnamese and Chinese translation of this book.

We wish to Fr. Compri good health in this ministry, celebrating also 60 years of his missionary life in Japan!

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