He devoted his energies to putting this idea into practice between 1932 and 1934.
Living in Japan, Fr. Cimatti and the Salesians gained six years of evangelization experience.
They were rewarded but also faced many difficulties: misunderstandings when preaching the Gospel, Japanese religion, the worship of the Emperor,
militarism, patriotism, and economic poverty.
Father Cimatti was very active in Japan, being invited to give many concerts, and he encouraged the Salesians working in Miyazaki, Oita, Beppu and Nakatsu,
giving them goals and sharing his clear ideas.
For example, "In Japan, we should focus on acts of kindness and love rather than words, so that we do not hurt anyone with words,
and we should entrust the evangelization of Japan little by little to the Japanese people."
In fact, he devoted all his energy to putting this idea into practice during the period 1932-34.
Relief Homes, Orphanages, Volunteer Homes, Tokyo Mikawashima Area
From a young age, Father Cimatti had a soft spot for the sick and elderly. Almost immediately after arriving in Japan,
he became the parish priest of Miyazaki, and as a result of visiting the homes of his parishioners, he wrote these words in his notebook.
"There are many elderly people in Miyazaki who are left behind, so we need to plan something for them."
One time, he visited Kumamoto City for a concert. There, Franciscan sisters were caring for a patient with a skin disease.
One of the patients had a healthy child, but there was no place for him.
Father Cimatti said, "We have to come up with something for these children."
He had been thinking about this and finally, in 1932, he was able to make it a reality.
With the hopes and support of many people in Miyazaki City and the active cooperation of Fr. Antonio Cavoli, the parish priest of Miyazaki Church, it was decided to open a "single-story relief home."
After a while, an "orphanage" was also added to the building. Needless to say, this was done as a visible act of love and to spread Christianity in Miyazaki.
The following year, in 1933, after several failures, they received support from the Holy See and purchased land in Miyazaki City
and had a wooden building constructed in order to foster religious and priestly vocations, which was completed that same year as the Aspirantium.
Somehow, in a short time, the place was filled with 30 young people, to whose formation Father Cimatti devoted his heart and all his energy.
In 1933 another wish of Father Cimatti was fulfilled: Archbishop Chambon of Tokyo entrusted the Salesians with the Mikawashima district, the poorest part of Tokyo.
Don Bosco declared a saint in Rome...Solemn sung mass held at Tokyo Cathedral
On April 1, 1934, Don Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Society, was proclaimed a saint in Rome.
Although Father Cimatti was unable to attend, the occasion was celebrated solemnly in Japan, first in Tokyo and then in Salesian parishes in Kyushu.
He celebrated a solemn sung Mass in Tokyo's Cathedral on April 29, with the attendance of Apostolic Nuncio Marella and the Archbishop of Tokyo.
As an Italian naval ship happened to be anchored in Yokohama Port at the time, the naval brass band also took part, making the event very well known.
Cardinal Marella, recalling that Mass 33 years later, wrote:
"Father Cimatti sang that Mass with all his might in his baritone voice. His beautiful voice resonated beautifully in that large church.
I remember the words he said to me after Mass: 'I felt comforted today.'"
Cimatti Museum Father Marsilio
March 6, 2020
Go to the index page of Father Cimatti's life
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