By Fr. Michael Lap, SDB

Tokyo, Japan, 31 May 2018 -- At present time there are 8 novitiates in our Region: 23 novices in Vietnam, 21 novices in Timor Leste, 12 novices in Indonesia, 10 novices in the Philippines, 2 novices in Korea, 2 novices in Thailand and one novice each in Japan (Tokyo) and in the Pacific (Fiji Islands - Suva) - total of 82 novices in our whole Region.

While the dynamics of the first six novitiates are easy to imagine, the one-to-one formation dynamic of the small novitiate is not easy to imagine. We are glad for the sharing from Fiji (novice Afi'a Enosa) and from Japan (novice Arakawa) about their journey with Mary during the month of May.

Fr. Michael Lap writes from Tokyo: "Happy feast of Visitation of the blessed virgin Mary! In Chofu Novitiate we have a small devotion to Mary on this day. We pray Rosary, offer the flowers which we have planted in the garden and read short spiritual book about devotion to Mary. We are only two, but we are feeling that Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Don Bosco are with us. Of cause we have a big community here in Chofu with 15 Salesians as well!'

From Fiji write novice Afi'a Enosa:

Bula vinaka! Greetings from Fiji! I take this opportunity to share with you two events that have touched me deeply during these first few months of my novitiate. Let’s continue to pray for one another.

Together with our senior postnovices we have every Sunday Catechesis (Sunday School) after the Eucharistic Celebration. In my class I have the little ones. This is a good experience because I am not only teaching the students but I am also learning to deepen my own faith.

And at the end of May I would like to share also my prayer: Dear Lord, on this feast day of our blessed Mother, the Help of Christians, guide and strengthen all of us who are in the Novitiate to know Jesus, to love Jesus, to live Jesus, to become Jesus to the many young people to whom we are sent. Good and dearest Mother, Help of Christians, form us, teach us, guide us, protect each one of us, our whole Congregation and the entire Salesian family and all the young people you entrust in our care!"

Happy the month of Sacred Heart of Jesus - month of all young Salesians in formation!

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