By Cl. Iguchi, Br. Tsubaki and Fr. Michael Lap, SDB
Tokyo, Japan, 25 March 2017 -- The two young Salesian novices in Japan took the first profession of vows before God, Church and Salesian family on 25th of March 2017, the feast of Annunciation of the Lord at Formation House Chofu-Tokyo. Scholastic Iguchi and Salesian Brother Tsubaki are the youngest among the 95 SDB of Japan province now.
Some one is thinking that the novitiate is look like a greenhouse. But our novitiate is not like that; we are forming to endure the heat, cold, food, drink and multi cultural environment.
The Director of Novices solemnly declared at the final conference for novices: "Do not wait for other person to make the happiness for our community, but each of you are responsible and obliged. Agape, agape and agape is the way to lead our community to happiness."
And he added: 'All the days I am with you, I try to your heart than the appearance. We know that if he sees only our appearance two of us are can not be here until today…" We are to thank you for his words. Because we know that we are not perfect persons, but he gives us a chance to learn and grow. And we have to continue to form our inner life as well external attitudes.
"Thank you dear Rector Major and all Salesians because you accepted us through Fr. Provincial Mario Yamanouchi. We are happy to be a Samurai for Christ in Don Bosco style. Normally the Samurai has swords and armor etc... with him always, but we have the Constitutions, Bonta, Amorevolezza (Loving Kindness) and the Heart of the Assistent - these things are with us twenty-four hours.
And then on the eve of our profession, Fr. Lap whispered us some words in our ears: "You have right to be happy because your name be added in the Salesian Annuario (SDB World Directory), but I would be most happy if your name will be written one day in Salesian Necrology (Deceased Salesians Book) and in the Salesian garden, in heaven."
Sharing this great joy we ask all EAO confreres for prayers to growth day by day!
