Interview with Sr. Kenjo, FMA
(Provincial Delegate ASC, Japan)
Tokyo, Japan, 29 December 2018 -- What makes you happy as the Salesian Cooperators Delegate?
I feel very happy when I meet people and can speak of Don Bosco with them. I feel I would like to share the loving heart of Don Bosco with many people. I feel very happy when I realize that when I meet with them, the Salesian Cooperators deepen their knowledge and love of Don Bosco and put his teachings into practice. I feel happy especially when I realize that I can work for youth together with them.
What helps the Salesian Cooperators grow in their vocation?
In our regular meetings we talk and learn about Don Bosco’s spirit and share our experiences: this helps me to grow because I learn how to see things from a broader point of view.
Besides, praying together makes us see things from God's point of view and helps us to deepen our faith. (Our meetings are an opportunity too for us to share spiritual advice, some kind of spiritual guidance.
What are the major challenges in the vocation growth of the Salesian Cooperators?
One of the challenges would be to make our monthly meetings more fruitful. Through the study of the “Project of Apostolic Life” and the sharing of our experiences we should deepen our understanding of the oratory spirit, and aim at an everyday life closer to Don Bosco’s life. Another challenge would be to have all the groups more involved in finding new vocations.
How do you prepare yourself as Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators?
I prepare a talk to give at the beginning of the meetings, hoping it helps them to live as Salesian Cooperators. I don’t speak only about Don Bosco’s spirituality, but also about the Church, the Pope, and share news about the SDB and FMA world. I feel that I have to better prepare myself for that. It would be nice not only to have news and sharing about the EAO Salesian Cooperators, but have world delegates coming over and have our members visit other countries for a broader sharing of information and deeper mutual understanding.
What kind of exchange among the EAO Salesian Cooperators do you dream about?
I dream of sharing experiences among SCs from EAO countries to learn how others are living the Salesian spirit in their daily life, to learn how they form their new members and how they work to find new candidates.
What are your expectations of the 2019 EAO Formators Workshop in Cambodia?
Salesian Cooperator’s situations and activities vary a lot depending on each country. I expect that in the Formation Workshop there will be some sharing on successes and failures in the provinces leading to a profitable mutual understanding. I am eager to know what they are doing in other provinces for the recruiting of new members.
It would be nice also to share ways of having SDB, FMA and SCs involved in common projects,
How do you put the four pillars of formation into practice?
By “looking at Don Bosco”, “deepening our understanding of the Project of Apostolic Life” and “imploring Mary’s help when we come across difficulties" we can say, as Don Bosco said, “OK Mary, let's begin.”
