Heart-warming and joyful life witness

By Our Own Correspondent

During last two weeks Sr. Apollinaris Shimura, the Superior General of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus did visit the recently founded (2012) first North-Brasilian presence of her Congregation in Juazeiro do Norte. On the evening of May 25 after dinner she was found unconscious in her room. The Vicar of the Congregation, Sr. Stella An did ask for prayers the Rector Major and the other groups of the Salesian family in her letter of May 27. In spite of an intense medical care in the ICU of St. Joseph Hospital, her critical condition didn’t improve and at 11 AM on May 30 she peacefully passed away in Juazeiro do Norte.

In the name of the Salesian Province of Recife, the Provincial Fr. Diego Vanzetta in his message communicated her death to the Salesians and Salesian Family of North East of Brazil. “Looking at the photos takes few minutes before her death she looked very smiling, transmitting serenity and joy… The SDB of Recife province are invited to celebrate the Eucharist for her eternal rest and for the whole Congregation of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus, so that may continue in their wonderful life witness and mission.” Indeed this 3years young, dynamic presence of the first community in North of Brazil raised up already few local candidates.

Fr. Francesco Cereda, the Vicar of the Rector Major, sent today his condolence message to the CSJ sisters through their Vicar Sr. Stella An: “Dear Sr. Stella, here in the General House in Rome … we started immediately our prayers upon your request on May 27 and yesterday we got the news about her passing away. We stay close to you, your general council and the whole Congregation in this time of unexpected loss of your Mother General. Mother Apollinaris did build the communion within your Congregation. She was appreciated for her kindness and relational capacity with the Salesian Congregation and within the large Salesian Family. We assure you with our prayers to Mary on the last day of Her months as well entrusting Sr. Apollinaris to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the incoming month of June. Sincere and heartfelt condolences!”

Sr. Apollinari Yuriko Shimura was born in Japan in 1948 and served in the CSJ Congregation in various position of service. At the central level first as Vicar of the Superior and in the 12th General Chapter in 2004 was elected as the Fifth Superior General, re-elected in 2010 for another period of six years.

During her term of service the Congregation underwent a delicate period of renewal, starting with the renewal of the Constitutions, changed the name of Congregation and moved with decision towards more intercultural dynamics of communion. The Caritas Sister of Jesus were founded in 1937 in Miyazaki, Japan. Since 1986 they are an official (10th) member of the Salesian Family, in 1998 were elevated to the Congregation of Pontifical right. At present there are 1100 sisters living and working in 15 countries (Japan, Korea, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, China, Vietnam, Australia, USA, Germany, Italy and South Sudan. Since 2010 the general house was transferred from Tokyo to Rome (only 15 minute drive from the General house SDB).

By ‘accident’ of the Holy Providence an excellent interview given by Sister Apollinaris in Korea already in May 2011, was published only now (May 2015_ in the Italian edition of the Salesian Bulletin.

(cf. AustraLasia link n. 2873, 2011.June 16 & Bollettino Salesiano-online, Maggio 2015)