By Fr. Sato Naoki, SDB

Tokyo, Japan, November 26, 2015 - Japan Provincial community discernment process in view of The Six Years Plan started already last November 2014. In view of the incoming Provincial Chapter 2016 (June 12-16), the whole all confreres are involved in a serious province-wide listening to all confreres and local communities.

Through first two rounds of the provincial survey already emerged clear consensus of great majority of the confreres to move out of the comfort zone. Before the Provincial chapter 2016 are scheduled also two Assemblies of the confreres (Tokyo in January and Khyushu in April).

Main focus of the provincial discernment is on the reshaping of the Salesian mission, with a clear preferential option for the poor youth, given the fast changing social situation of Japan and diminishing number of Salesians.

During recent provincial council and rector meeting were reflected the first two survey results with some emerging points: (1) GC27 discernment method of Listen-Interpret-Way forward is being followed; (2) The wisdom of the Congregation that 'poor young people will save the Salesians' is being again confirmed as the main attention of the provincial surveys; (3) Need to learn from other similar processes in other religious education congregations in Japan and also from other EAO provinces with common traits like diminishing number of confreres and need to reshape the mission; (4) No-negotiable ways forward: Salesians with a changing mentality; involvement and formation of our lay mission partners, openness towards Salesians coming from other provinces and fostering vocation culture in all communities.

The province of Japan has at present 101 confreres (35 less than 20 years ago) who are committed to the education and evangelization of the young in 4 schools and 8 kindergartens, 7 parishes, 2 social works with revitalized youth ministry and well animated 9 groups of the Salesian family.

During the recent rectors meeting the EAO regional councilor quoted opinion of the youngest member of Japan province (novice, 21 years old): 'Don't' be afraid! The main issue is not about smaller number of Salesians, but about our courage to be present among the poor young people what ever does it cost." Indeed also the title of the recently published Don Bosco Manga is 'Coraggio!'

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