Online (Tokyo, HCM, Manila, Brno), 19 August 2020 -- Another 'Team Visit' of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco Asia-Oceania region was held on 18 August, this time with the Japan Federation (launched in 2015).
The 90 minute online meeting was prepared in a typical Japanese way with a meticulous detailed report in 26 slides, full of data, photos and clear situation background. At the moment there are only 130 Catholic students (2.6%) among the almost 4000 Japan Salesian school population. How do we animate the numerous 46,000 graduates of 6 Don Bosco schools in Japan within this situation? EAO SDB regional councillor, EAO GEX councillor and world delegate for the Past Pupils of Don Bosco - all participants learnt a lot during the 90 minute meeting. As usual, also present were Br. Dominic Nam, Fr Joseph Phuoc, Mr Neil Evangelista with his assistant Andre Launio and Fr Vaclav. From the Japan Federation there were Fr Suzuki (Delegate), Fr Shin Mishima (GEX Delegate), Mr Chihiro Okawa and Mr Mitch Tateishi.
The 26 slide presentation is available on Boscolink. You may wonder what is so special about the Japan Federation: First of all, it took a few years after the direct challenge of Fr Pascual Chavez to the leaders of Japan's Past Pupils during his two visits to Japan (2004 and 2012), then two outstanding Salesians - Fr Aldo Cipriani, former provincial (RIP)and Fr Paul Kawai, former principal of Yokohama Salesio High School (RIP) - who accompanied the Past Pupils before the DB 200 celebrations. So during the 2015 Bicentenary celebrations the Japan Federation was officially inaugurated! The process towards the Federation took quite few years, to bring together the Past Pupils of each school to widen their horizons towards the other distant schools.
Among the more than 46,000 graduates of five Salesian schools (Miyazaki, Osaka, Yokohama, Tokyo - Salesio Primary and High school with Salesian Polytechnic) are many distinguished Past Pupils who contribute to the batch-level organization. The Federation is active and collaborates with the Salesian Youth Movement (Tokyo), contributes to the semestral edition of the Salesian Bulletin of Japan (Don Bosco no Kaze), each school. past pupils have their branches in the capital, Tokyo, and through Don Bosco are also able to encounter the Salesian and Christian spirit.
We hope that our majority non-Christian provinces of the EAO region may learn from the zealous and well organized Federation of Japan's Past Pupils of Don Bosco!
The Prayer-Promise of Don Bosco - Past Pupil
[adjusted version of Japan Federation]We Salesian Past Pupils
Share the desire to be an honest person
Who gives oneself to one’s family, society and to the world
As a mature person of good will, a good citizen.
We want to give our best to the others
Always and at any time,
With strong will and righteous heart.
May we uphold Don Bosco’s teachings
And always as the light of the world
Live together
With children and youth.
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