(ANS – Tokyo) – Today, the 26th September, the Rector Major ends his trip to Japan, the second for Fr Chavez in the Land of the Rising Sun. In his many meetings with the young people who frequently visit the Salesian centres, the Rector Major explained how generosity and holiness bring happiness.

The Rector Major landed in Tokyo on Thursday 21st September and was immediately welcomed and greeted by Fr Aldo Cipriani, Salesian Provincial, Sr Francesca Wakamatsu, Provincial of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Sr Monica Kawabata, Provincial of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus, together with a large crowd of members of the Salesian Family.

In the afternoon, at the house of Formation of Chofu, the Rector Major had talks with about 60 Salesians working in the region of Tokyo, had offered them a conference and presided at Mass, during which he also awarded an honour to Fr Michael Moska who, moving to Japan from Poland in November 1937, had spent all his 75 years in the Province of “St Francis Xavier”. The day ended with a community meal.

The following day, the Rector Major visited the Salesian school in Yokohama, which on that very day was celebrating the “School Festival”, an annual event marking culture, sport and recreation in full Salesian style, which was much appreciated by Fr Chavez. The 9th successor of Don Bosco then went to the 1100 students gathered in the Theatre Hall together with their teachers, to remember that happiness consists in being friends of Jesus. In the afternoon the Rector Major went to Tokyo-Meguro to meet the Salesian Family in the Tokyo area.

On Sunday the 23rd of September, still in the parish of Tokyo Meguro, the Rector Major celebrated Mass together with about 15 priests and in the presence of more than 500 young people from the 7 Salesian parishes in Tokyo and its suburbs. In the homily, Fr Chavez emphasized that life is a very precious gift, to live unselfishly  like Dominic Savio and Laura Vicuna did.

In the afternoon the Rector Major went over to Osaka, greeted the local Salesians and took part in a reception in his honour organized by the Salesian community in collaboration with a group of teachers and past-pupils from the “Seiko Gakuin” school. At this event, Fr Chavez also handed out medals to some of the benefactors and zealous past-pupils as a thank-you for their cooperation.

Early in the morning of Monday the 24th , the Rector Major celebrated Mass in the FMA Chapel. “We are not living in easy times, but we are not alone. Jesus has left us as mother his own Mother, to look after, guide and protect” , mentioned in the homily.

Later, meeting up with 600 past-pupils of the “Josei Gakuen” secondary school, he reminded them of the importance of following the values of holiness and repeated these words: “You are the better resource of Japan which exports products but not people”. After the visit to the Cathedral, Fr Chavez also met the local Archbishop, Mons. Leo Ikenaga Jun.

 Returning to the school of  Seiko Gakuin,  the  Rector Major met up with the students and those looking for the heights: “Failures must not discourage, but become reasons for vigorous renewal!” And then he added: “Happiness can help: 1) if you have a dream to realize; 2) if you want to develop your talents; 3) if you want to build a sense of solidarity”. After having blessed the statue at the entrance to the school, he left for Nagasaki, where there had been a festive gathering at the airport.

Yesterday, the 25th of September, Fr Chavez visited the church of Oura – an historic place because of the recovery of Christians who had kept the faith for about 250 years during the period of Japan’s isolation – the cathedral of Urakami, the monument for peace and, to finish, with prayers and meditation, the atomic bomb museum. 

In the afternoon the Rector Major went to the church of Nakamachi to meet the local Salesian Family: they had a Mass and a gathering in which babies from the asylum run by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus put on a show with dances and concerts with taiko, a typical drum. In the evening, Fr Chavez returned to Tokyo, from where this morning he departed on a flight to Rome.

Published 26/09/2012