ENGLISH

“The mustard seed”

In 1925 Fr Antonio joined a group of nine Salesian confreres led by Fr Cimatti, who were leaving for Japan. After a 45 day voyage, their ship arrived in Japan on 8 February 1926.

Fr Cavoli was sent to Miyazaki, in the district entrusted to the Salesians. There he gave dedicated assistance to the parish priest, Fr Cimatti, who as well as studying Japanese, was also very much involved in organizing and forming Christians.

In March 1929 Fr Cavoli was appointed parish priest of the church at Miyazaki, and was guiding a group of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. He invited them to seek out the poor, the sick. Following up their request, he began to visit families. This is the origin of the spirit and activities of the Religious Congregation of women that he would then found.

 

It was my good luck to be chosen to make up the first Salesian group sent to Japan by the then Rector Major, Fr. Philip Rinaldi, in August, 1925. On the morning of our departure fromTurin, December 29th. of that year, the good Father offered Holy Mass for us in Don Bosco’s Rooms. At the end of the Mass he gave us simple and moving words of farewell, and stressed charity as the only and indispensable means of gaining access to the hearts of this people. (…) I took the words of our Father as a sacred deposit, and carried them always in my heart. In time they became the leaven of life and action.

(Autobiography, The word of the Father)



One must approach the sufferer and the needy with something to give; with a coat for one who is cold, with a clean and hygienic covering for one who lies on a filthy pallet, with some rice for one who is hungry. In other words, one must ease bodily suffering first in order to succeed in convincing people really that there is a God who thinks of all His children. (…) In fact those poor people and sick asked: "Who is the God that sends me this gift ? I must thank Him.” These were moving expressions, full of mystery.

(Autobiography, The poor have the good news preached to them)



I said to the girls: "Today we begin a stupendous work ! Give me a penny each, just a penny.” And 22 pennies dropped into my hands, one after another. Some, more refined, wanted to give more, but I refused. I took just one penny from each. And with the 22 pennies clasped in my outstretched hand, I declared to them all: "I want our work to begin with an act of faith in Divine Providence.”

(Autobiography, A decisive act of faith)