By Fr. Carmelo Simoncelli, SDB
Beppu, Salesio House In charge
Beppu, Japan, 6 September 2016 -- Like the Braga House in Hong Kong - China, also our Salesio House in Beppu, Southern Japan - Kyushu Island, is a haven for the elderly and sick Salesians who are getting ready to give back their life to their Lord and Creator.
About 50 years of foundation of Beppu Catholic Parish in 1931 our Salesian House was build in 1975 as a base-camp for all Salesian missionaries working in the Kyushu area in different small or bigger parishes. Twice every month all confreres would gather together for their monthly recollection, fellowship and recharging their batteries with ongoing formation.
Since 1998 emerged another need, to give a good health care to our elderly and sick confreres in Kyushu. A simple two-story structure with a hot spring (on-sen) is an ideal place. Thanks to many friends of Don Bosco around Beppu the autumn of life is spend joyfully.
Fr. Carmelo even at his 89 years is still the care-giver and brings the Eucharist to those confreres who are recovered in some Beppu hospital (this year there are 3: Fr. Fraga, Fr. Di Prinzio and Fr. Higashiki) as well is guiding the daily prayers, presiding the Eucharist. Together with the youngest member of Salesio House, Fr. Dominic Savio Linh (Vietnamese missionary) and three lay person we are at the service of other 6 senior confreres - three of them living under the same roof - Fr. Emi (95 years), Fr. Kamezawa (89 years) and Br. Kawabe (88 years).
We remember the Letter about Salesian experience of sickness and old age, written by late Rector Major Fr. Juan E. Vecchi in August 2001 in the Acts n. 377. As every senior Salesians we try in our house to help each other to be ready to give everything back to our Lord when he would call us to Him.
