The Gift of Mission Entrusted to the Salesian Family in Japan

By Cl. Kenji Lorenzo Ruiz Hasegawa, SDB

Chofu, Tokyo, Japan, 7 October 2023 – The Province of St. Francis Xavier, Japan (GIA) held Salesian Family Day to commemorate World Mission Day and the founding of the Salesian presence in Japan through the endeavors of pioneer Venerable Vincenzo Cimatti, SDB, whose death anniversary was remembered just a day before. It may be recalled that last year’s gathering was held online, but this year’s was held hyflex (onsite and through YouTube live streaming) in Chofu Parish Hall (Cimatti Hall) at 2:30 in the afternoon and was spearheaded by the Provincial Commission on Communication and confreres from the Chofu Community with the 2023 Salesian Family World Mission Theme: “Care of Creation, Our Mission.” In attendance were the various members of the Salesian Family in Japan: Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Caritas Sisters of Jesus (SCG), Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Don Bosco Volunteer Group (DBVG), Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), and VIDES Japan.

Fr. Hideaki Jacob Hamaguchi, SDB, the GIA Provincial Superior, led the attendees into invocation by praying the Salesian Family Prayer together and delivered an opening remark highlighting the recent joy among the members of the Salesian Family, which was witnessed in the event of the Rector Major’s elevation to the cardinalate. He shared the message of the Rector Major that his elevation to the cardinalate is a gift not only to the Salesian Family but also to the Universal Church. It is, in a particular way, a gift for the members of the Salesian Family because it is an affirmative vision and hope of the Holy Father and the Church that the welfare of the young people may be entrusted to the charism of the Salesian Mission. He also noted that the celebration is a joyful thanksgiving for the province’s milestones through the pioneering endeavors and initiatives of Venerable Vincenzo Cimatti, who led the first missionaries in the country. It is in the joy of the Lord that members of the Salesian Family can genuinely live the fulness of the Salesian Mission in the manner of Don Bosco.

Fr. Michael Lap, SDB explained the theme: “Care of Creation, Our Mission” using the elements found in this year’s poster for the Salesian World Mission. He elaborated that such theme is not only directed to the members of the Salesian Family, but rather to the entire humanity. It may be recalled that in 2015, Pope Francis issued his encyclical letter “Laudato Si’” on care of our common home – the earth. The tree in the center is rather symbolical as it embodies life itself and, in Christian dimension, tree of the cross that brings salvation. Underneath the tree are the gathering of people reading the Word of God that sustains life. At the background, equipment for sustainable energy is evident as to convey the message on the care for creation. Last element found is the group of migrant people looking for a community to be integrated. These elements deduce the idea of sharing common home. After explaining the theme, Fr. Lap invited the congregation to pray the Prayer for Salesian Mission 2023 (Care of Creation: Our Mission) together.

Also commemorating Venerable Vincenzo Cimatti, Fr. Giovanni Marsiglio, SDB, the procurator for Fr. Cimatti’s cause for canonization, shared the missionary vision of Fr. Cimatti. In this year’s theme of the World Mission Day, Pope Francis chose the theme “Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move,” which Fr. Marsiglio used to pattern it after Fr. Cimatti’s life as a missionary in Japan. He elaborated on how rich the Salesian Family is by having so many sanctities (174) on their way to sainthood, in which Fr. Cimatti is one of those. The missionary life of Don Cimatti is indeed with the heart on fire to give joyful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ to the people of Japan. His creative fidelity to mission is very much evident in his charismata, especially his music prowess, where he held numerous concerts in the country as a way of evangelization. Such zeal is lived with a heart burning that constitutes actions in order to bring evangelization into completion.

After the talk, DBVG, SYM, and VIDES Japan gave a presentation on their respective activities. DBVG held its volunteer program in Vietnam to help local Salesian schools furnish facilities. Through the volunteer works the young people participated, they also learned how to embrace and appreciate other culture and bring genuine communion with other people. The young people performed a dance taught by the young people they mingled with depicting the life of fishermen in Vietnam, who despite the difficulties faced are still optimistic in finding joy and happiness in their daily lives. To conclude the presentation, the group showed a video clip on the activities held in their volunteer work in Vietnam.

SYM, although not a group on its own, presented the experiences of the young people from various Salesian settings who joined the World Youth Day held in Lisbon, Portugal this year. The young people narrated their touching encounter with the Pope and the Rector Major realizing the scheme of the Church and the Salesian World in the Church. The pilgrimage that was held in the World Youth Day enabled each of the participants to walk like Mary ready to serve Elizabeth as seen in the Visitation narrative. Such meditation made young people also ponder the meaning of the call from the Lord who calls each one in a personal manner. The words “Do not be afraid” uttered by the Pope reminded the young people that it is the Lord who assures each to take courage and walk the path tracing the footsteps of Don Bosco. The presentation concluded with a singing of this year’s theme song for the World Youth Day.

VIDES Japan, a youth group animated by the Salesian Sisters, also introduced their activity to the assembly. Its main volunteer works are mostly being held inside the country, but they were occasions when the group held volunteer activities outside the country like in Cambodia serving the poor young people to learn baking for their self-sustainable livelihood. In the VIDES International Congress held last year in Rome, VIDES Japan, through VIDES Poland, was able to hand some goods for the people of Ukraine. The group also introduced its humble work for the young people in difficult situations by providing a place to play, study, and eat together with the youth members. Also, the volunteer reported its new work that has been expanded to serve people in Fukushima.

After all the presentations, an intermission dance item was presented by the young people of Don Bosco Oratorio (Vietnamese Youth Group in Chofu). This occasion was rather appropriate to report on the apostolic mission being embraced by the Caritas Sisters of Jesus in South Sudan. Sister Bosco Shimizaki, SCG, currently assigned as a missionary to South Sudan, took the opportunity to thank each of the members of the Salesian Family who have been supportive of the endeavors in South Sudan.

To conclude the entirety of the program, Fr. Fr Joseph Nguyen Thin Phuoc, SDB, the EAO Regional Councillor who has been in the country for the consultation on the new Provincial Superior, delivered a closing remarks. Being also in last year’s program held online, he could not but expressed the joy of being able to hold a Salesian Family gathering on site. He highlighted that the presentations of what each members of the Salesian Family respectively do entail richness and scale of the big Salesian Family in the world. The Salesian Mission, indeed, is not only for the Salesian World, but rather for the good of the entire Church. Fr. Hamaguchi imparted the blessing of Mary Help of Christians, entrusting to her the endeavors of the Salesian Mission in our own province, and also in the whole world entrusted to the members of the Salesian Family.

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