DonBoscoASIA

Tokyo. Sunday 6 November saw the by now traditional Youth Festival take place at Chofu (Tokyo). This was the 27th such event; something is regarded as 'tradition' once it reaches twenty in Japan!

The day began with a lively dance in honour of Don Bosco, not far off celebrating 200 years, but still amongst us in today's Salesians and their young people. The dance involved all the 400 or so participants who came together from seven parishes around Tokyo and Yokohama. Mass, solemn and also lively, was celebrated by Fr Aldo Cipriani, Provincial, who appears to be recovering well from his recent illness. A particularly significant moment was the sharing on the part of three groups from the Salesian Youth Movement; they spoke about their experience last summer. The first group gave a happy account of their close-up view of the Holy Father at World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid. The second group spoke of their volunteer experience at Tetere in the Solomon Islands. The third group expressed satisfaction that they found themselves able to be of use following the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan on 11 March last. Lunch, abundant and tasty, was seen to by a team of some thirty mothers from the same parishes. In the afternoon there were games and other events which, as Don Bosco himself would have desired, had a focus that went beyond mere enjoyment to provide some aspects of formation. Tired as they all were by the end of the day, the young people were nevertheless very happy to have shared in the knowledge that they are a substantial number when they all come together. Their parishes tend to be small and can lack this sense of the larger group, so when Fr Sato Naoki, who had organised the gathering, indicated that “we'll see each other again next year” there was an immediate and sincere 'yes' to that!