| Japan – Salesians: in search of a common approach |
| Japan – The first news about the Salesian Family |
The earthquake, the tsunami and now fear regarding the nuclear power stations, have left the country in a state of shock. Estimates concerning the number of those who died in the stricken areas speak of over 10,000. In spite of everything vital services are being restored and the people are trying to return to their normal activities.
A report from the Salesian Provincial house in Tokyo has confirmed that Salesian centre have not be seriously damaged because they are not located north of Tokyo, except for a summer residence at Nojiri, about which as yet there has been no news.
In Tokyo the cross fell from the bell tower of the Church in Meguro. At Adachi a boundary wall collapsed and the statues of the Guardian Angels disintegrated. At Kawasaki a statue of the Sacred Heart fell down and an old part of the kindergarten was damaged. In almost all the houses furniture and shelves suffered and the greatest damage in terms of collapsed bookshelves and other things was at the bookshop and religious objects sales outlet at “Don Bosco Sha”. Considering the force of the earthquake which in the area of Tokyo was about 5 on the scale this is very little indeed.
The Salesian schools have re-opened but since for safety reasons some of the electrical power stations have been closed, electricity and water are rationed and this makes things difficult. Transport too is still effected since some key inter-sections for trains and the underground are out of action.
Also the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have not suffered any casualties. “The situation of our pupils and their families is not causing any worries, but we are thinking of the many children and elderly in the emergency centres, in a gymnasium or a hall all together: men, women, old and young, the elderly etc...in need of everything,” the Provincial Secretary of the FMA in Japan Sr Marisa Gambato reports.
The Sisters of Charity of Jesus, likewise, are all well. Of their 46 houses in Japan, that of Shirakawa, in the Province of Fukushima – in the diocese of Sendai – is the one closest to the epicentre of the earthquake. The Sisters are safe but some of the children from the nursery school are missing. In Tokyo, one of the Sisters had an alarming experience. She was in hospital for an operation when the earthquake happened: the doctors had to interrupt the serious operation but then managed to complete it successfully later.
For the Sisters of Charity of Jesus in the capital, the material damage too was limited: some pipes burst, some shelves and cupboards fell, some windows were broken. To ensure the safety of the babies and the children in the orphanage they were put in the kindergarten which is best earthquake proof building.
For various forms of solidarity and help the Salesians, FMA, and the Sisters of Charity of Jesus are waiting so as to be able to join together with the Japanese Bishops and with Caritas Japan. For the present the authorities are asking everyone to remain calm and not to put themselves in danger.
Tomorrow, 15 March, Fr Aldo Cipriani SDB Superior of the Province returns to Japan after being in Thailand for the Team Visit to the East Asia –Oceania Region.
Published 14/03/2011
