austraLasia 897
(Re #896: Those with a better knowledge of Japanese than the writer indicate that 'Gakuen' describes a Social Welfare Institution while 'Gakuin' describes a Scholastic Institution. Apologies to the Japanese for that error!)
Caritas Sisters conclude General Chapter: New Mother General and Council
TOKYO: 2nd October '04 -- The 1100 member Caritas Sisters, with foundations in 7 countries in the EAO region as well as in Europe, South America and the USA, have concluded their 12th General Chapter, held at Tokyo throughout the month of September.
The Caritas Sisters, also known as Caritas Sisters of Miyazaki, were founded in 1937 by Salesian Fr Anthony Cavoli on the strong advice of Mons. Vincent Cimatti. Fr Cavoli had already formed a group of women who visited the poor and the sick and ran a hostel for orphans and the aged. They became an Institute of Pontifical Right in 1998.
The theme of the 12th General Chapter was 'New Wine into New Skins'. It was a 'renewal' Chapter. The Chapter elected a new Mother General and 5 new Councillors. The new Mother General is Sister Apollinaris (the former Vicar). Moderators at the Chapter were two - one Japanese, one Korean, and the President was a Visitor provided by the Congregation for Consecrated Life. A Korean Bishop, Bishop Kang Woo Il, was facilitator for the Chapter.
The Caritas Sisters' membership comprises roughly 50% Japanese and 50% Koreans. They now have their first vocations from Peru and Brasil and aspirants from the Philippines and Vietnam. One of the important elements of the recently completed Chapter was to further plumb their charismatic roots - their Salesian spirituality. The Sisters consider the Sacred Heart of Jesus as their supreme Protector and the core of their spirituality, and they see the love of the Sacred Heart shining through the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul and the practice of Don Bosco's Preventive System. Mons. Cimatti, called a Co-founder of the group, and whose cause for Beatification is in process, is an important source of their spirituality.
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'austraLasia' is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific. It functions also as an agency for ANS, based in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com. Did you know that the term 'Pia', once used to describe the Salesian Society, was never official but sometimes used by Don Bosco to distinguish his 'Society' from other, less salubrious societies. The term was dropped definitively from Salesian reference in 1925. For further comment cf Lexisdb
