By Fr. Joseph Phuoc, SDB

Valdocco, 23 December 2023 -- On December 15, 2023, the Rector Major, Rev. Angel Fernandez Artime, appointed Fr. Hamasaki Atsushi Francis as the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Japan for the next years (2024-2030). Fr Hamasaki Francis will succeed Fr. Hamaguchi Hideaki Jacob, who has served the Province of Japan since 2018.

Fr. Hamasaki was born in 1968 and joined the Salesian novitiate in 1989. He made his first religious profession in 1990 and was appointed to the priesthood in 1999. After his initial formation, he has served the Province in different ministries, formation, school, parish in different communities and dioceses. He has been a member of the Provincial Council for many terms, assisting the Superiors for animation and governance.

Presently, although the Catholic Church in Japan is a minority (0,3% of the population), the Japan province has significant services to the young people and the Catholic Church. In fact, together with lay people, they administer various schools with national reputation (from kindergarten, Elementary to High Schools and one Polytechnic Institute). They also animate social services in 2 Centers for kids with difficulties. The Church entrusts to the Salesians a number of Parishes, mostly multicultural ones, to serve the Japanese Catholics and people from different countries like Brazil, Peru, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

As the society is going through fast changes in demography as well as economy (with less and aging population, and yet, more young migrants (almost half of the Catholic population is not Japanese-born), the Japan Province (with 70 Salesians) is hoped to work closely with the Church, the Salesian Congregation and EAO Region to a better service of the young in their beloved country.

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