austraLasia #3437
GIA Provincial Community Day
MEJURO: 19 May 2014 -- Sunday May 18 was the day the Japan Province chose to celerbate its Province Day, choosing Meguro Parish (PP Fr Achilles Loro Piana) as the gathering point for some 300 members of the Salesian Family (SDB, FMA, Caritas, Salesian Cooperators) and Salesian Bishop Mizobe Osamu Francis Xavier who celebrates his Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination this year.
That afternoon, in the Parish centre, Fr Mario Yamanouchi, delegate to GC27 and Vice Provincial, shared some thoughts, illustrated by slides, on the Chapter event, also offering the RM's recent interview with Japanese subtitles. The Provincial, Fr Cipriani, offered a gift and thanksgiving to the jubilarians. There was also a brief address by the EAO Regional, Fr Klement, who has been in Japan for the consultation for the new provincial. He asked Salesians to use the 25th day of each month as an EAO prayer day (for each other: 22 countries, 10 provinces and some 1400 Salesians).
Mass followed at Meguro Church, with Bishop Mizobe joined by special concelebrants (Frs Simoncelli, Tazawa) the Provincial and regional and 25 other SDB priests. Cimatti's Mass was sung by the Meguro parish choir. Fr Loro Piana was the homilist.
Bishop Mizobe chose, instead, to speak after the Eucharist. After his retirement as bishop of Takamatsu, he is now living in Kyoto, and has a particular mission to youth accompanying many of them on their vocation journey. He spoke of "the Crocetta years as cleric (when Loro Piana was a novice in Piedmont) and the song 'Gli anni passano e i bimbi crescono.'" He said his dream now was to stay with the youth till the end of his life, and be there with the heart of Don Bosco, staying in the playground, assisting them. He closed with his prayerful wish that the younger generation of Salesians might continue to live with this pastoral heart in the future too.
The evening witnessed an Academy and light dinner in the Parish & Kindergarten Hall - songs contributed by Caritas Sisters choirs (FMA Sisters were present but many were at a prayer vigil for a Sister who died), young Salesians in formation (1 temporary professed brother, 2 novices and 5 senior aspirants), Salesian Cooperators (with the song to Don Bosco which they composed for the DB 200 contest). All the Jubilarians offered a brief sharing.
Bishop Mizobe congratulated everyone for the fine family spirit of the Provincial Day, sharing his deep conviction that the Salesians are giving the Japanese Church a fine example of a hardworking and spiritually strong religious congregation and family.
GIA Provincial Community Day
That afternoon, in the Parish centre, Fr Mario Yamanouchi, delegate to GC27 and Vice Provincial, shared some thoughts, illustrated by slides, on the Chapter event, also offering the RM's recent interview with Japanese subtitles. The Provincial, Fr Cipriani, offered a gift and thanksgiving to the jubilarians. There was also a brief address by the EAO Regional, Fr Klement, who has been in Japan for the consultation for the new provincial. He asked Salesians to use the 25th day of each month as an EAO prayer day (for each other: 22 countries, 10 provinces and some 1400 Salesians).
Mass followed at Meguro Church, with Bishop Mizobe joined by special concelebrants (Frs Simoncelli, Tazawa) the Provincial and regional and 25 other SDB priests. Cimatti's Mass was sung by the Meguro parish choir. Fr Loro Piana was the homilist.
Bishop Mizobe chose, instead, to speak after the Eucharist. After his retirement as bishop of Takamatsu, he is now living in Kyoto, and has a particular mission to youth accompanying many of them on their vocation journey. He spoke of "the Crocetta years as cleric (when Loro Piana was a novice in Piedmont) and the song 'Gli anni passano e i bimbi crescono.'" He said his dream now was to stay with the youth till the end of his life, and be there with the heart of Don Bosco, staying in the playground, assisting them. He closed with his prayerful wish that the younger generation of Salesians might continue to live with this pastoral heart in the future too.
The evening witnessed an Academy and light dinner in the Parish & Kindergarten Hall - songs contributed by Caritas Sisters choirs (FMA Sisters were present but many were at a prayer vigil for a Sister who died), young Salesians in formation (1 temporary professed brother, 2 novices and 5 senior aspirants), Salesian Cooperators (with the song to Don Bosco which they composed for the DB 200 contest). All the Jubilarians offered a brief sharing.
Bishop Mizobe congratulated everyone for the fine family spirit of the Provincial Day, sharing his deep conviction that the Salesians are giving the Japanese Church a fine example of a hardworking and spiritually strong religious congregation and family.
