The Salesian Youth Gathering with the Rector Major in Japan (5)

By Chihiro Okawa, EXDB

Tokyo, Japan, 11 November 2018 -- In the evening of 10 November, Salesian young people in Japan gathered at Chofu Salesian Seminary and Chofu Church to see Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB, the Rector Major who is now visiting Japan.This "SYM Gathering Special: the Gathering of the Rector Major and Young People" has been planned and prepared for over the past year mainly by the young SYM Japan secretariats, Fr Shinjiro Urata, SDB and Fr Shin Mishima, SDB.

The connection between the young people gathered this time and the Salesian Family is quite varied. They gathered from various churches, schools, and religious affairs, and their home country and hometown is also rich in variety. More than 130 participants, including SDBs, FMAs, SCGs and teachers of the Salesian Schools, came together from all over Japan.

In this gathering, a girl referred to the feature of her Salesian School as follows. "The teachers are very friendly." And a boy from a Salesian Parish talked about his joy "By being here today, I can feel the Salesian atmosphere with you all."

After the dinner, and entertainments such as dance, and self-introduction, Q&A time, a talk from the Rector Major and Eucharistic Adoration followed, The Rector Major gave concrete, zealous and positive messages to the young people.

Firstly, The Rector Major talked about the pleasure of the encounter with many Salesian young people and of listening to their stories during this visit to Japan. And, introducing the mystery of his vocation to the Salesian Society, the Rector Major told the young people the importance of having dreams and ideals, the happiness of the way of life devoted to others, and the joy of living with God (regardless of religion). He also encouraged them to believe in and foster the richness of their spirit, values and possibilities.

At the Eucharistic Adoration, introducing the Holy Gospel of the Emmaus Encounter, the Rector Major invited the young people to imagine that Jesus is always with them and embraces each of their lives and hearts.

As today's Don Bosco, introducing the words of Don Bosco such as "I trust you guys", and "I love you guys very much just because you are young", the Rector Major emphasized repeatedly how joyful it was for him to accompany the young. With special thanks for the young people who attended the gathering, he spent a wonderful four hours with them.

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