4939(II)_St Francis Xavier Province celebrates its Patron Saint

Rectors Japan meet in Nakatsu, Kyushu island

By Fr. Michael Lap, SDB

Nakatsu, Japan, 3 December 2018 -- The Salesians of St Francis Xavier Province, Japan, met for their 3rd Rectors meeting during this year of 2018 in Nakatsu, Kyushu Island. Their meetings are scheduled for spring, summer and autumn. In order to know the other Salesian communities spread far from each other, and to have a chance to interact with other Salesian confreres, the autumn meeting is always held in a different community.

The December 1-2 Rectors meeting was held in Nakatsu community, close to Nagasaki. Nakatsu Don Bosco community was established in 1947 and currently has 7 Salesians (3 Salesian Priests and 4 Salesian Brothers). The main mission of this community is to look after a "Child Care house", Nakatsu Parish and the chaplaincy for Caritas Sisters of Jesus (Nagasaki - Sotome). The large green compound of Nakatsu community, cared for by the Salesian Brothers, welcomed all participants with an open arms.

The main points on the agenda for this Rectors meeting were: preparation for the upcoming 2019 provincial chapter (June), Reshaping of Salesian presences in Japan - evaluation of the work in progress and some recommendations to the General Chapter in 2020: 'What kind of Salesians for the Young people of Today?'

The complete provincial council (Provincial Fr Jacob Hamaguchi), project team and rectors also celebrated the Feast of their Patron, St Francis Xavier, who is also considered among the founders of the Catholic Church in Japan and who spent also part of his missionary life in Kyushu.

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