Whole Salesian life witnessing amidst the Young

By Our Correspondent

Tokyo, Japan, 16 July 2016 -- Fr. Omaki was born in Seoul (Korea) in 1936, passed way in Tokyo on July 16 after 61 years of Salesian consecrated life. His funeral was celebrated in the parish church of Shimoiugusa (Tokyo) today on July 21. The Vigil Eucharist on July 20 was presided by the Provincial Fr. Mario Yamanouchi who returned for this occasion from his short English course in Manila, Philippines.

Fr. Joseph Yoshihiro did his secondary school studies in Tokyo and entered the Salesian Aspirantate in Miyazaki (1950-1954) and made his first profession as Salesian of Don Bosco in Chofu, Tokyo on 25th March 1955. After his priestly ordination in 1963 was assigned to the following tasks:

• 1964-1966: Chofu (profesor of Latin)
• 1966-1972: Miyazaki (catechist in the high school)
• 1972-1974: Rome (UPS & Lateran University pastoral theology)
• 1974-1980: Kawasaki (Salesian Aspirantate, catechist - high school)
• 1981-1993: Osaka (teacher, in charge of the boarding section)
• 1993-1994: Tokyo (economer – provincial house)
• 1995-2004: Tokyo (Chofu, Adachi, Mikawashima – parish priest, kindegraten)
• 2004-2016: Tokyo (Suginami community)

In his homily during the Vigil Mass, Fr. Provincial underlined two wonderful characteristics of Fr. Omaki: ‘Walking with the Young and Amongst the Young people wherever he was send by obedience – in different schools and parishes around Japan. The Bible verse ‘Blessed are the gentle’ (Mt 5,10) does best express his evangelical virtues.

Secondly the last years of his life in Tokyo-Suginami, was for Fr. Joseph a time of inner purification and growth in communion with the Lord in order to be ready to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

We pray for the eternal rest of Fr. Omaki and give thanks for his 61 years of Salesian life witness and work!

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