austraLasia #2013
EAO Elders - living witnesses to the Da Mihi Animas
EAO: 22nd December 2007 -- Just a few days ago we received notice of the death of possibly the oldest member of the EAO Region, Brother Ottavio Masiero (1912-2007) who died at Beppu, Salesio House Kyushu, Japan. He was a simple, joyful man and until 2006 kept house in the Osaka community. He was famous for his sense of humour and contribution to family spirit.
Christmas seems an appropriate time to remember not only those who have passed on, but the good number of 'EAO Elders' still working in the Lord's vineyard at this late hour! While they might have, in most cases, retired from active ministry, their living example of faithfully lived consecrated life is inspiring. Only a day or two ago, a note from the AUL provincial named two men - Fr Hans Dopheide and Fr Bill Edwards, who are reduced by illness to a state of dependency on others' help - in Fr Hans' case it is not so much advanced age as advanced illness. For Fr Bill, it is a case that his life 'is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf' as Shakespeare put it beautifully (Macbeth 5.3.30-36). And for both these men, as for those named below, we might take the first part of Shakespeare's insight to heart as our own, musing on "...that which should accompany old age, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends...". It can be our way of recognising the great value of faithful witness.
Possibly amongst the three oldest men in the Region at the moment are three in Japan: Fr Clodoveo Tassarini (1912- ) a former GIA provincial, and Fr Mikalaj Moskawa (1915- ) in Yokohama, a former novice master and still active as confessor and spiritual guide to some members of the Salesian Family, and Fr Martino Yasuo Akimoto (1913- ), in Beppu, the first Japanese Salesian priest. I wouldn't want to overlook a fourth, still a 'younger' man than those just mentioned,another sterling missionary, Fr Frank Drohan (1919- ) still doing a power of translation work down in Miyazaki.
In CIN there is Fr Ernesto Rescalli (also 1913- ) in Macau and still teaching catechism at Yuet Wah College, then Fr Gaetano Nicosia (1915- ) [cf austraLasia 1817 interview] also in Macau, and Fr Luca Yao Wei (1916- ) in Taiwan, still clear-minded and cheering his confreres on during the centenary celebratiions in China province.
In FIN we have Fr Georg Schwarz (1914- ) in Canlubang, until a few years ago still teaching physics! He was a founding member of the Philippines Salesian mission in the 50's. Nearby in FIS there is Fr Anthony Gircour (1919- ) in Cebu-DBTC still active as confessor to seven different sisters' convents.
In ITM Bro Jose Ribeiro (1924- ) is in Los Palos, the last of the 1946 Timor Leste re-founding expedition, still catechising and assistant to the boys in the orphanage.
In KOR there is Fr Rinaldo Fanichelli (1920- ) in Shin Weol Dong, Seoul. He has spent some 50 years in Korea and 10 years in Japan.
In THA there is Bro. Prachin Piemsiri, Simon (1923- ) at Banpong Sarasit School, well known for his cheerful and dedicated work in many schools around the Thai province.
In VIE Fr Isidoro Le Huong (1926- ) still active in parish ministry near Dalat.
We began with AUL, so let's add one more - Fr Alan McDonald (1918- ), a stalwart of the Brooklyn Park community now for many years, still remembered at the Casa Generalizia where he was Vice Rector for a time, and still managing some translation work.
To all these men who are but representative of many other 'elders' amongst us who have gone unmentioned in this item but certainly not unsung, a simple 'thank you' for the value of witness, and the wish that this Christmas they be remembered in a special way.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org.
EAO Elders - living witnesses to the Da Mihi Animas
EAO: 22nd December 2007 -- Just a few days ago we received notice of the death of possibly the oldest member of the EAO Region, Brother Ottavio Masiero (1912-2007) who died at Beppu, Salesio House Kyushu, Japan. He was a simple, joyful man and until 2006 kept house in the Osaka community. He was famous for his sense of humour and contribution to family spirit.
Christmas seems an appropriate time to remember not only those who have passed on, but the good number of 'EAO Elders' still working in the Lord's vineyard at this late hour! While they might have, in most cases, retired from active ministry, their living example of faithfully lived consecrated life is inspiring. Only a day or two ago, a note from the AUL provincial named two men - Fr Hans Dopheide and Fr Bill Edwards, who are reduced by illness to a state of dependency on others' help - in Fr Hans' case it is not so much advanced age as advanced illness. For Fr Bill, it is a case that his life 'is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf' as Shakespeare put it beautifully (Macbeth 5.3.30-36). And for both these men, as for those named below, we might take the first part of Shakespeare's insight to heart as our own, musing on "...that which should accompany old age, as honour, love, obedience, troops of friends...". It can be our way of recognising the great value of faithful witness.
Possibly amongst the three oldest men in the Region at the moment are three in Japan: Fr Clodoveo Tassarini (1912- ) a former GIA provincial, and Fr Mikalaj Moskawa (1915- ) in Yokohama, a former novice master and still active as confessor and spiritual guide to some members of the Salesian Family, and Fr Martino Yasuo Akimoto (1913- ), in Beppu, the first Japanese Salesian priest. I wouldn't want to overlook a fourth, still a 'younger' man than those just mentioned,another sterling missionary, Fr Frank Drohan (1919- ) still doing a power of translation work down in Miyazaki.
In CIN there is Fr Ernesto Rescalli (also 1913- ) in Macau and still teaching catechism at Yuet Wah College, then Fr Gaetano Nicosia (1915- ) [cf austraLasia 1817 interview] also in Macau, and Fr Luca Yao Wei (1916- ) in Taiwan, still clear-minded and cheering his confreres on during the centenary celebratiions in China province.
In FIN we have Fr Georg Schwarz (1914- ) in Canlubang, until a few years ago still teaching physics! He was a founding member of the Philippines Salesian mission in the 50's. Nearby in FIS there is Fr Anthony Gircour (1919- ) in Cebu-DBTC still active as confessor to seven different sisters' convents.
In ITM Bro Jose Ribeiro (1924- ) is in Los Palos, the last of the 1946 Timor Leste re-founding expedition, still catechising and assistant to the boys in the orphanage.
In KOR there is Fr Rinaldo Fanichelli (1920- ) in Shin Weol Dong, Seoul. He has spent some 50 years in Korea and 10 years in Japan.
In THA there is Bro. Prachin Piemsiri, Simon (1923- ) at Banpong Sarasit School, well known for his cheerful and dedicated work in many schools around the Thai province.
In VIE Fr Isidoro Le Huong (1926- ) still active in parish ministry near Dalat.
We began with AUL, so let's add one more - Fr Alan McDonald (1918- ), a stalwart of the Brooklyn Park community now for many years, still remembered at the Casa Generalizia where he was Vice Rector for a time, and still managing some translation work.
To all these men who are but representative of many other 'elders' amongst us who have gone unmentioned in this item but certainly not unsung, a simple 'thank you' for the value of witness, and the wish that this Christmas they be remembered in a special way.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org.
