Provincial Community Day in Japan 2023

By Cl. Kenji Lorenzo Ruiz Hasegawa, SDB

       Chofu (Tokyo), Japan, 20 June 2023 -- On Fathers’ Day, the Province of St. Francis Xavier (Japan) held its annual celebration of the Provincial Community Day. It was indeed an event recalling the father and teacher of youth, whose charism binds the confreres all with the same gaze of admiration towards his fatherliness that becomes an enlightening manifestation towards the path of the ‘grace of unity’ as his sons. It was also an occasion to give thanks as an entire provincial community to the service rendered by Fr. Jacob Hamaguchi, SDB, in leading the province towards its mission in which each Salesian made vows to live faithfully the mission as a community in accordance with the way of the Gospel.

       The gathering started with a talk by Fr. Mitsugi Joseph Matsuo, SDB, creating an awareness of the early missionaries in Japan during the Meiji period and about the work of Don Bosco in Valdocco. It was an intriguing undertaking to note the letter addressed to Don Bosco sent by Mother Mathilde Raclot, a French Catholic nun and missionary from the Sisters of the Infant Jesus who came to Japan as a missionary in 1872 after having been to Malaysia, and Singapore for her missionary assignments. It brought a significant historical perspective that as early in the 1870s, the Salesians were requested for their collaboration to open educational settings for the young people of Japan. However, this request was humbly denied for the reason that during the time, Salesian Missions gave priority to the endeavours in South America, especially in Patagonia.

       History has it that the first arrival of the Salesians in Japan was on 8 February, 1926 led by Venerable Fr. Vincenzo Cimatti, SDB, about fifty years after the first Salesian Missionary Expedition to Patagonia. It was around the years when the first Salesian missionaries were being sent to South America when Don Bosco received the request from Mother Mathilde. However, Fr Matsuo highlighted the notion that in the long distant parts of the globe far from Valdocco during the time, Don Bosco and his works were already known across the world. It was interesting to know that the Catholic community in Japan at that time longed for the presence of the Salesians who are now, more than ever, embodied in the zealous presence of the Salesians in Japanese society today.

       Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Hamaguchi, together with all the participating confreres. The Holy Mass was also a thanksgiving for the jubilarians, namely: Fr. Attilio Felicani, SDB (60th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination), Fr. Toyokatsu Giovanni Bosco Namiki, SDB (50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination), Frs. Tomohiro Giovanni Kojima, SDB and Naoki Paul Sato, SDB (25th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination), Fr. Loro Piana Achille, SDB (60th Anniversary of Religious Profession), and Fr. Sobon Tadeusz, SDB (50th Anniversary of Religious Profession). The token of appreciation was handed by Fr. Hamaguchi to all the jubilarians after the final blessing.

       The confreres were led to the refectory at the Chofu Community for the celebration. An Academy was prepared by the aspirants, post-novices, students of theology, and the brothers. Some confreres also showcased their musical skills and sense of humour. Unifying the confreres’ camaraderie were the musical compositions of Fr. Cimatti himself where the refectory was filled with resounding voices singing “Ubi Caritas”, and “Mersis Quides.” The gathering ended with the traditional singing of “Casa di Padre” reminiscing over the memory of our dear father Don Bosco, and how his dreams are being fulfilled by his sons in Japan and in the different parts of the world.

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