Nakatsu, Kyushu, Japan, 27 July 2022 -- Fr Peter ('Mickey') Muramatsu, SDB started his passion for magic almost 40 years ago as a young boy, became motivated during theology formation years in Paranaque (FIN, Philippines) and since a Christmas performance in 2012 has been sharing his 'Gospel Magic' videos on his YouTube channel.
Up till July 2022 there are no fewer than 24 short videos (average of 6 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/user/mickey3040/videos) of his magic show. Most of them are taken during some Salesian Family events, even with the Rector Major among the public, some are done in his 'studio' (home-made) in Nakatsu community, Kyushu island - southern Japan.
Reading his extensive interview from 2014, you can see the long journey in the 'Gospel Magic ministry' since his childhood, motivated by the Salesian audience, both youth and adults. Fr 'Mickey' (2014 interview link: https://www.bosco.link/mailnews_old/35415). Persistence in this ministry is the main lesson to be learned. Fr Muramatsu never gives up, always learning some new 'magic tricks' to make the Salesian Family and the young happy, also finding some 'disciples' among the younger generation of Japan Salesians who have been watching the Gospel magic many times.
As of today, our Japan Salesian magician is still Rector in Nakatsu community, living together with 3 Salesian Brothers (Br. Tojo, Br Yamada and Br Fukagawa) and Fr Simoncelli. Of course, the Rector is the youngest member of this community. Nakatsu St Joseph Social Work (started in 1933) is one of the two youth social work run by the Japan province, the other located in Tokyo - Kodaira.
We are glad that this creativity in small things continues, and believe that through the digital sharing (YouTube) of videos, some young Salesian may be attracted to this simple, but very fruitful passion of 'Gospel Magic'.
Resources:
Nakatsu St Joseph house (Fr Mickey-vicedirector)
News related articles:
- ANS news: Japan - Final animation visit within 2019
- ANS news: Japan - Rector Major to Salesian Family (visit of 2018)
- ANS news: Japan EAO Congress of Salesian Cooperators (2017)
- AustraLasia 3454: Gospel Magic - the value of surprise (interview - June 2014)
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This AustraLasia article was published in Madrid, Salesian Mission Office (Spain)