4924(I)_"Under the common flag of 'Salesian'"

Don Bosco Past Pupils Japan Annual Board Meeting in Miyazaki

By Mr. Chihiro OKAWA, EXDB

Miyazaki, Japan, 17 November 2018 -- The Federation of Don Bosco Alumni, chaired by President Mr Hiroshi Yoshida (the Honorary Advisor of the Osaka Seiko Gakuin Alumni Association) in the presence of SDB Provincial Fr Jacob Hamaguchi, held its annual board meeting at Hyuga Gakuin in Miyazaki, which was founded by Msgr Vincent Cimatti, SDB, Founding Father of the Salesian Family in Japan.

Mr Takateru Uramoto, the President of Hyuga Gakuin Alumni Association and Fr Francis Hamasaki, SDB, the Principal of Hyuga Gakuin, gave the welcome speech to all participants from Tokyo (Ikuei Gakuin, and Kodaira Salesio), Yokohama (Salesio Gakuin) and Osaka (Osaka Seiko Gakuin). Before the session began, they looked around the school, and got to know how active and successful the students and past pupils are.

This year, our Federation experienced two special visit to our country, the Animation Visit by World Confederation councillors, Mr Angel Gudiña and Mr Alberto Piedade in July, and the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime this month, so the two visits were briefly introduced at the meeting. Mr Uramoto in particular emphasised what a joyful moment the encounter with the Rector Major in Miyazaki was just a week ago.

Last year, the Federation established Working Teams, which consist of the younger generations of each Alumni association, to consider the sustainability and development of the Federation. Mr Chihiro Okawa, and Mr Mitsuhiro Tateishi, the Team Captains and Team Leaders respectively, reported on the progress of each project since last year: Social Communications, Finance and Incorporation, and the Asia-Oceania Congress in Japan 2020.

President Yoshida showed his satisfaction with the WT reports and said, "The Asia-Oceania Congress in 2020 is just a stepping stone for our Federation. We have to keep on this path, that is, adopting the voices of younger generations, we have to deepen the cooperation and interaction between 5 Alumni associations under the common flag of 'Salesio' and open up the rich future of the Federation."

At the end of the meeting, Fr Hamaguchi, SDB Provincial, who participated in the EXDB meeting for the first time, gave thanks to all participants. He especially referred to two points. First, the importance of unity as "Salesians". Second, he called for more cooperation of Past Pupils in fostering the vocational culture in each Salesian School, because of the sharp decrease of the SDBs in Japan in the last 30 years.

After the meeting, a get-together party was held in the city, beginning with an Our Father. It displayed the hospitality of the Hyuga Gakuin Alumni Association. The next day, some of the participants enjoyed playing golf in Miyazaki's rich natural environment.

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