Interview with Mr. Mamoru Umemura, 

Salesian Cooperator - Formator, GIA

By Our Own Correspondent

Tokyo, Japan, 26 March 2019 -- What makes you happy as a Salesian Cooperator?

To find the spirit of Salesian Cooperators, or Salesian spirit gives me a push when we are planning to do something new.

What makes you grow in your Salesian Cooperator vocation and mission?

My heart is full of joy when I choose to give priority to others, especially to do something for the young and the poor.

What are the major challenges in your vocation growth?

Main challenges in my life as Salesian Cooperator is to pray well, to read the PAL (Project of Apostolic Life) frequently and understand deeply the basic meanings of our activities - our mission.

How do you prepare yourself for the accompaniment of the young or Salesian Cooperators?

We study the PAL, we attend the seminars of the Salesian Family together with the SDB, FMA sisters and Caritas Sisters of Jesus to understand the proper meaning of our Project of Apostolic Life. And we foster the Salesian Cooperators who would be able to take care of formation of future members.

What exchange among the EAO Salesian Cooperators do you dream about?

We would like to understand the sense of meaning concerning the mission – activities of Salesian Cooperators in accordance with the conditions in each of the 23 EAO countries. And we would like to collaborate with each other for some possible common activities.

What do you expect from the 2019 EAO Formators Workshop in Cambodia?

We expect a new modern formation program to be designed for the incoming new generation.

How do you put into practice the four pillars of formation?

Talk about each pillar every time we attend the local and provincial meetings or retreats for Salesian Cooperators. It is important especially to listen to other participants. We study the thoughts and the activities of Don Bosco from many readings and intensively follow them. Know how to do? - We study various formation programs, listen to the experiences of other groups, look back at the activities, and then move onto the next action. Know how to be? – We study both the “human” and “spiritual” ideal form from the Gospel and Life stories of Saints. Know how to live in communion? - Live by maintaining respectful relationship between members of the church (or local center).

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