(ANS – Tokyo) – With the October number, the monthly magazine “Katorikku Seikatsu” (Catholic Life), published by the Salesians in Japan, reaches its 1000th issue. This important occasion was celebrated on 8 September with a Mass at which Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada of Tokyo presided.

84 years have passed since 24 May 1928 when the Venerable Fr Vincenzo Cimatti, who had only been two years in Japan, published “Don Bosco”, a four-page leaflet aimed at Christians and non-Christians in the city and the Province of  Miyazaki, where the Salesians had begun their mission. For many years “Don Bosco”, also known as the “Salesian Bulletin” was also a useful means of communication for the Salesians in the early years of the Japanese Province.

During the war for about two years “Don Bosco” was not published but just three months after the end of the war in November 1945 it re-appeared with a new name – Grain of Mustardseed -  which it kept until January 1952 when the name “Catholic Life” was adopted; it was the 273rd issue and Fr Federico Barbaro, helped by Fr Dal Col and Fr Mantegazza was responsible for it.

At the Mass last Saturday 8 September, about 20 priests surrounded the Archbishop and there were about 200 in the congregation. At the end of the Mass Fr Pietro Sekiya, director of “Don Bosco Sha”, introduced the many collaborators present, some of them very well known in Japan. Then in the parish hall there was a reception.

Reaching this important goal has made everyone determined to continue to collaborate with “Catholic Life” which aimed at Christians and non-Christians alike in Japan is certainly a valid means of the missionary apostolate in the land of the rising sun.

Published 13/09/2012