Japan Catholic News
February 2008
KYOTO CATHOLICS PRODUCE DRAMA ABOUT MARTYRS
Catholic
Weekly, February 24,2008
 Catholics from parishes around Kyoto presented a drama about one Japan's martyrs, St. Thomas Kozaki - a Letter to His Mother, following a Mass celebrated by Bishop Yoshinao Otsuka at Kyoto's Nishijin Church Feb. 5, the feast of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan.
The drama was produced as "a new message" about the martyrs in this year when 188 more Japanese martyrs are to be beatified. Those involved in the production prepared for three months for the production. The part of the young St. Thomas was played by Nobuharu Jino of Nishiin Church.
The drama was sponsored by Francis House in Shimogyoku. Akiko Nishida, a member of the Franciscan Third Order, was in charge of the script and acting. Lighting and sound were set up beforehand, and costumes and other assistance was provided by the Suwaraji Dramatic Society, which has links with St. Maximilian Kolbe.
According to Franciscan Fr. Lucas Horstink of Francis House, St. Thomas Kozaki - a Letter to His Mother is based on fact, and he hoped that "people would be inspired by the production." He further hopes to spponsor a production about the life of Tecla Hashimoto, who was martyred in Kyoto.
CATHOLIC BRAILLE LIBRARIES CALL FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS
Catholic
Weekly, February 17,2008
Eleven people gathered Feb. 2-3 at the Kakogawa Church in Hyogo prefecture for a regular meeting of Kajoren, the Catholic information service for the visually handicapped. Representatives from Maria Library in Nagasaki, Sacred Heart Library in Hyogo, Logos Library in Tokyo, Library of the Daughters of St. Paul and the Regina Library in Hyogo took part.
Braille and audio books selected from Catholic and Protestant publishers in the areas of philosophy and theology, and other popular titles on various subjects are available to the visually impaired from these libraries.
A talk by Tetsuo Mano, former editor of Braille Mainichi, a leading journal in this area, opened the session and afterward participants exchanged views and ideas about their activities and plans.
Production of Braille books or audio CD's or tapes is a costly enterprise. A government subsidy is available to make up the transliteration costs so that any library may buy a copy at the same price as its original. However, since the application process is complicated and often takes quite a long time, some libraries render their services free or work on a cost-recovery basis.
Common problems among the libraries include the aging of volunteers and difficulties in recruiting new ones. Training of new translators takes time and it is not unusual for trainees to abandon the training before completing it.
Hideharu Takahashi, director of Tokyo's Logos Library said, "A computer program, 'Braille on PC,' allows an increase in the number of volunteers who have little knowledge of Braille, since the program does everything from the input of the original text to output in Braille, doing an automatic proofreading."
Commenting on other ways that computerization helps in the production of materials, he added, "Now PC software can produce maps and illustrations in a similar manner. Braille is fundamentally a language of 'touch and read.' Therefore, it is important for translators to retain a sense of finger-touch and to use it in developing captions, layout, illustrations, etc. so that they may become comfortably fit for finger reading."
It is said that there are 301,000 visually handicapped people in Japan and about 70% of them became blind not from birth but by sickness or accident. It is also said that those who lost their sight later in life or those who are partially sighted often find it difficult to master Braille. This means that the Braille market is limited to a population of about 30,000. The remaining 270,000 rely upon audio services. Demand for materials on CD or tape is thus increasing.
"How do those 270,000 manage to obtain necessary information?" asked Takahashi, "Though there are some technical supports such as text books in large fonts or magnifiers for weak-sighted students available at schools for the blind, it is still necessary for the 270,000 to overcome the difficulties and hardships of mastering Braille so that they may express themselves in writing."
Kajoren suffers a shortage of manpower and money, unable to maintain even a homepage. To compensate for their inability to provide information on a continuous basis they publish a bulletin announcing new books in Braille, CD or tapes three times a year.
JUSTICE AND PEACE COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS NEW INITIATIVES
Catholic
Weekly, February 17,2008
 The Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace held its annual administrative meeting Feb. 8-10 at the Catholic Kaikan in Tokyo. About 60 delegates from across the country attended, dealing with business from last year and exchanging news from dioceses and local council meetings. This year's meeting was special because seven representatives of young adult Catholics were called to participate.
Participants talked about greatly enjoying the July 2007 Justice and Peace Contemplative Prayer Meeting and hoped to do it again this year. There was also a report about how international cooperation efforts through Pax Christi, a Catholic peace organization, are progressing throughout 50 countries across the world. News also touched on the participation of the Japanese council in an October 2008 international meeting, and more broadly on human rights, safety and stability, demilitarization, peace education, and Article 9 of the Constitution.
Attention focused on the Environmental Issues and Death Penalty Abolition Committees, newly created at last year's meeting.
The Environmental Issues Committee announced progress in preparations for issuing a formal message, and is currently evaluating its message toward the Church concerning the use of renewable energy.
The Death Penalty Abolition Committee talked about the atmosphere in which many people, both inside and outside the Church, approve of the death penalty. So, the committee is considering publication of pamphlets in order to change hearts and minds. Preparations also progressed toward the creation of a Religious Freedom Promotion Committee.
On February 8th, before the meeting, Jesuit Fr. Juan Masia the Death Penalty Abolition Committee chairman, sent a written protest to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Minister of Justice Kunio Hatoyama concerning three executions that had taken place on Feb. 1.
He wrote, "In the combined 16 months of the Abe and Fukuda administrations, there have been 16 executions... I ask you why is there such disregard for human life in both of these administrations?"
Fr. Masia expressed surprise that Justice Minister Hatoyama seemed unable to go two full months without more executions.
He stressed that at the United Nations General Assembly meeting last December, 104 nations passed a resolution aimed at eliminating the death penalty. In his 2002 World Peace Day Message, Pope John Paul II said, "No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness." According to Fr. Masia, In Evangelium Vitae the pope said that governments should rethink using capital punishment. Similar protests were sent by the Jesuit Social Center and Amnesty International Japan.
This year's National Justice and Peace Convention will be held in Osaka in September. Guided by this year's theme of "Breaking Barriers of Discrimination," Catholic high school students will hold a prayer service together with foreigners and people of other faiths.
Preparations for increasing awareness of martyrs in Japan are also going well, according to diocesesan representatives. There was also direction and encouragement for activities relating to this year's 60th World Human Rights Declaration and July's G8 Toyako Summit.
Bishop Goro Matsuura, chairman of the council and auxiliary bishop of Osaka, said that the gathering featured several points, including the attempt to express simply and straightforwardly that the problems in the world are of primary importance in the heart of the Church, reflection on the situation of the Church as a male-dominated society and working together to change it little by little, facing the problem of the council being unable to find its place among other organizations and, responding to opinions of young participants in last year's gathering as well as this year's, keeping in mind situations where young people must do hazardous manual labor.
"I say it's good for the youth to come here as equals, that they want to do something upon returning to their parishes, even though at first they were hesitant. After seeing them take charge of the Taize prayer and the Sunday ceremony, I'm impressed by the way they pray," the bishop said.
On the first day of the gathering, participants gathered at the Nicolas Barre Convent of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus for a lecture by Yumi Kikuchi, who gave a speech entitled "My peace work started on 9/11." She spoke about American foreign policy and the 2001 terrorist attacks as a lead-in to her proposals on the best ways to promote peace.
Since that terrorist incident, Kikuchi has been working as a world peace activist toward cooperative opposition to war, questioning the authenticity of reported news and pointing out inconsistencies through her reflections on high-profile terror. Before The Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, the United States had shown restraint in its dealings with foreign nations, but defense industries now have a large effect on those policies, she said. She also talked about the importance of speaking for those people who do not have voices.
PASTOR COOPERATES WITH TV DRAMA ABOUT A PRIEST AS MEANS FOR MISSION
Catholic
Weekly, February 17,2008
Last year, the Yamaguchi studio of NHK, the Japanese national television network, shot scenes for a television drama called Gotaisetsu at the Yamaguchi Church and the drama was broadcast on local channels at the end of the year. With "love" as its theme, the drama was widely acclaimed by viewers and will be broadcast nationally.
Jesuit Fr. Shinya Matsumura, pastor of Yamaguchi Church, assisted with photography and direction during the production. He said that he is delighted with the drama as it has a missionary dimension.
"There was tension until we got the final result," he said, mentioning some of the difficulties involved.
"Gotaisetsu" was the word used by Christians as a translation of the word "love" since there was no Japanese word for "love" when Christian missionaries first arrived in Japan. The drama portrays family love through the story of a young Japanese man who becomes a priest and his relationship with his mother.
Since the setting of the drama is at a church and is the story of a priest, Fr. Matsumura agreed to supervise the production, and along with checking the scenario.
The story includes such unlikely events as the priest hearing his own mother's confession, but in response to questions from other priests Fr. Matsumura replied, "Look at it as part of the story."
He said that as long as there were no mistakes, he allowed the drama to go ahead, since he believed it would also be missionary work.
Takegoro Nishimura of the broadcasting department of NHK's Yamaguchi studio said he was delighted with the use of the word gotaisetsu as it is a traditional Japanese word which conveys the meaning of love, and he feels that when people think of each other in that way it gives them hope in life and energy.
The broadcast station received many responses from viewers, with comments like "It reminded me of something that I had forgetten," Priests and other Catholics also praised the production.
"The result was all right," said Fr. Matsumura.
But he also recalled that before shooting started it was difficult to get agreement from people around him. Yamaguchi is where St. Francis Xavier built the first church after arriving in Japan. Since Yamaguchi Church continues this history is has become a tourist stop, but the people there believe that the Church should not "operate a business" so some laity and priests disapproved of the production.
During the week when the drama was being filmed tourists were not allowed into the church, and the sound staff came in during Mass. They had to keep away from people who did not approve of the production, and some of the equipment was stored in the local Jesuit house.
Explaining his reasons for cooperating with the production, Fr. Matsumura said, "Missionary work means doing what you can. Missionaries too have had to put up with the ridicule of people around them, and do their work humbly, and thus carry out their mission in Japan. When I thought about how best to become involved with the people around me, I saw that this was another means of doing so."
This time there was an unexpected response to the "missionary" work. The pastor explained that while there are voices opposing the present modern design of the church, "viewers said that 'this looked like a real Catholic church,' showing that they were not adhering to the past and were looking ahead."
GALLERY AT CATHOLIC COLLEGE FEATURES WORK OF DOMINICAN ARTIST
Catholic
Weekly, February 10,2008
 An exhibition of paintings by Dominican priest Fr. Albert Carpentier, whose works frequently appear on the cover of the Japanese language Sunday Mass pamphlets produced by the Oriens Institute for Religious Research, was opened in the art gallery of the St. Catherine's College in Ehime prefecture with a special ceremony on Jan. 30.
After blessing the exhibition, the president of St. Catherine's, Dominican Fr, Jovino Sanmiguel, said, "through works of art we hope to develop the human and spiritual qualities of our students. Since we have received many works of art, in the future we hope to enlarge this gallery."
Fr. Carpentier, 89, cut the tape to open the exhibition. After receiving a certificate of thanks during a reception afterwards, he said, "I am very happy there is a gallery which exhibits my works. I studied art since I was a middle school student, and after coming to Japan I also studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Then I made murals and stained glass windows for churches around Japan. I am almost 90 years old now, but want to continue my work proclaiming the Gospel."
Fr. Jovino, who wishes to use works of art to promote Catholic education, opened an art gallery inside the college and asked that Fr. Carpentier contribute some of his works for the exhibition space. A total of 270 of Fr. Carpentier's works have been donated to the gallery, including woodcuts, fairytale illustrations, design sketches and watercolor paintings. Other works will be substituted for these as the exhibition continues.
Many paintings with the thick clear lines which characterize Fr. Carpentier's works are displayed in rows in the gallery. There are scenes from the books of Genesis, Revelation and other parts of the Bible, depictions of the passion of Christ, the Way of the Cross, the Madonna and Child, the mysteries of the rosary, saints of the Dominican order and many others.
"I would like ordinary people to view these. I would like all the Catholics in Japan to be able to come here and see these works," said Fr. Jovino.
Fr. Carpentier was born in Belgium in 1918, and began painting when he was 13. He entered the Order of Preachers in 1937 and came to Japan as a missionary in 1949. He learned Japanese-style painting at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His works have been displayed at many exhibitions in Japan and he is a member of the Kofukai Japanese artists' association. His murals adorn the walls of religious houses in Canada, Spain and other countries, and his stained glass and murals can be seen in churches all over Japan. He continues to produce many works of art.
LAY GROUP PREPARES TO OPEN RETREAT CENTER IN KAMAKURA
Catholic
Weekly, February 10,2008
 The Christian Life Community (CLC), a lay Catholic group, is preparing to reopen a closed retreat house in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture.
The CLC and the Jesuits plan an April reopening of the Japanese Martyrs' Retreat as a center for lay Catholics. The Jesuits have only recently taken possession of the facility which until last December was maintained by the Missionary Sisters of St. John the Evangelist.
The goal of the CLC is to help lay Catholics live out their daily mission. The CLC is currently comprised of 30 small groups with nearly 200 members throughout the country, following the rule of St. Ignatius focused upon prayer and cooperation.
According to the CLC's Kenichi Miyasaka of the Tozaki Church in Kanagawa, a member of the retreat center's administrative board, "This isn't exclusively for the CLC. The CLC is supporting this initiative because we want this place open for people who want to pray, people who want to examine themselves."
The retreat house is temporarily closed for repairs and other preparations, and will reopen in April, but reservations are already being accepted for activities including daily meditation sessions.
"It seems like a lot of people are requesting the prayer space," Miyasaka said.
The committee that makes decisions affecting the retreat house's operations includes representatives from the CLC, the Jesuits and the Yokohama diocese, with the CLC members leading. Last spring, the Jesuits approached CLC about the project, and in July, the core membership was decided.
Miyasaka said, "It wasn't only through wining and dining and good business, but through personal and public prayer, and the Jesuits coming together with us on this plan for the sake of serving the lay and larger Church. A new spirit is emerging, I think."
"Cooperation with the laity has been a main objective for the Jesuit community since our 1995 general assembly meeting," said Jesuit Fr. Ryuichiro Hanafusa, a member of the administrative team. "In other countries, there are many houses of meditation where the Jesuits and the CLC operate together. This seems appropriate since the CLC directs meditations. This is a first for Japan, but a partnership where the laity and the Jesuits are united is necessary, symbolic of the times when elementary and middle schools are advocating social responsibility."
The availability of the prayer space is truly symbolic. "Up until now, 100 percent of the guests in this house of meditation have been clergy, but now, with participation from lay Catholics increasing, the prayer space they asked for is now available at their request."
According to the priest, this initiative from lay Catholics signals a fresh sense of unity.
"This isn't just the clergy coming together. Many of the Yokohama diocese's laity are realizing that this house of meditation is a sign of what the Catholics in this diocese can do, united as one."
For information or to make reservations, call 0467-25-1616.
JAPANESE CATHOLICS IN ROME MAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY IN 'THE LANGUAGE OF THEIR HEARTS'
Catholic Weekly, February 3,2008
Japanese Catholics living abroad have organized groups to support their faith in many cities around the world. Among these groups is the Japanese Catholic Group of Rome, Italy.
The Rome group usually gathers once a month for Mass, tea and conversation. They also have the opportunity for confession in Japanese before Mass.
One of the leaders of the group is Fr. Yuji Sugawara, a Jesuit who celebrates daily Mass in Italian. He said the meetings give him precious opportunities because, "I still pray in Japanese when I'm by myself. My native tongue is, naturally, the language of my heart."
The priest in charge of the group is Carmelite Fr. Makoto Wada who is the representative in Rome of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan. He encourages internationalization, but including involvement in the local Church saying, "Getting together is important, but the basic thing is the parishes."
Besides their monthly activities, the group runs two major events each year, a group trip and a bazaar.
"It's fun when the laity and religious get together," said Fr. Sugawara, who mentioned that last year's bazaar featured vegetables grown by the members.
"We had homemade curry,manjyu (bean-jam buns) and lots of other food," said group member Mayumi Araki, commenting on the successful event.
The bazaart promotes cultural exchange, but last year's was smaller than the year before, because an increase in the amount and variety of Japanese goods available in Italy has decreased the attraction of a Japanese bazaar. In addition, there are difficulties in dealing with problems like shoplifting.
The responsibilities of lay members of the group have increased, so the group's bulletin announcing new members, departures and other news has become briefer. Fr. Sugawara attributed the increase in the burdens on the lay membership to a decrease in the clergy and Religious among the membership.
In years past, Japanese in Rome were mainly clergy and Religious who were generally young and in
Rome for studies. Those priests and nuns were able to take a lot of leadership responsibilities,
but four years ago, there were only two young Japanese priests.
"In Japan, as Catholics are decreasing in general, clergy studying abroad are also decreasing, but Japanese Catholic exchange students are increasing," said Fr. Sugiwara.
With increasing numbers of Catholic exchange students, it's important for the group to keep everyone informed. Among the approximately 140 members of the group, about 80, more than half, are lay Catholics.
But, though the clerical and Religious element of the membership decreases, it remains important to offer them support, according to Fr. Sugiwara.
"Our oldest member is now in her 90s, and the priests and Religious really appreciate it when she makes onigiri (rice balls) for them. Cardinal Hamao was the same way."
Salesian Fr. Yusuke Sakai, who is studying in Rome, called his opportunities to be with the Japanese Catholic Group, "precious, invaluable time."
Last December, at the altar of the Jesuit headquarters where he said Mass in Japanese each month, the Japanese Catholic Group and a group of Japanese bishops on their ad limina visit to Rome celebrated a memorial Mass for Cardinal Fumio Hamao, who was happy to count himself a member of the group when he lived and worked in the Vatican. As always, after Mass there was tea and conversation, where the bishops and group members reminisced about Cardinal Hamao and times gone by.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY RUNS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
Catholic Weekly, February 3, 2008
People passing through stations on the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen lines or on JR local lines throughout the Kanto and Kansai regions may have noticed large posters advertizing Nanzen University in Nagoya. The Catholic university, founded and still run by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) has developed a publicity plan to make the university known more widely throughout Japan.
Last year during the months of July and December, the school displayed these large posters in Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Hiroshima and Hakata stations as well as in eight other stations on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. The posters featured the phrase, "Making
the Strength of Each Individual Contribute to the Strength of the World." Along with these words was an illustration of the university's president, Fr. Hans-Jürgen Marx, wearing his Roman collar as an indication that Nanzan is a Catholic University.
They also carried a message from Fr. Marx, "An ability in languages enables one to communicate with the world. The strength of the person enables one to overcome differences of race and culture. We want to give you the freedom to be able to do this."
"The purpose of this aggressive publicity campaign is not to increase the number of students who will take the entrance exams for the university," said a spokesperson in the president's office. "During the 2006 school year our university drew up what we called a 'Grand Design,' an image of the university as we envision it in 20 years. In order to communicate this vision and make our university known more widely in other areas like Tokyo and Osaka, we thought that putting our president out in front would be an indication of our strong determination as a university."
In addition to the large posters, the school took advantage of "trainjacking," a system through which an organization or company can monopolize all the advertisements on a train for a set time. Nanzan did this on Kanto and Kansai JR lines. On the JR East Chuo Line the university made use of "the train channel" that presents video advertisements on trains.
"We haven't limited ourselves to advertisements on trains, but also have used various media, putting advertisements on the radio and internet, in an original Shinkansen timetable and in Hitotoki, a magazine placed in the First Class cars. We intend to continue using various media to publicize our existence and our spirit as a Catholic university throughout the country with emphasis on the Kanto and Kansai areas," said the spokesperson.
JAPANESE BISHOPS CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH CURIA OVER MASS TRANSLATION
Catholic
Weekly, February 3, 2008
During their ad limina
visit to Rome last December
members of the Japanese
hierarchy visited the
Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments and
met with the prefect,
Cardinal Francis Arinze,
to continue ongoing discussions
of the new Japanese translation
of the Mass.
Bishop Masahiro Umemura
of Yokohama, chairman
of the Episcopal Committee
for the Liturgy, said
that he hoped the Congregation
would understand that
the proposed translation
of the Latin prayers
was based on Japanese
culture and customs,
and during their discussions
he said that the two
sides moved closer to
solving remaining problems.
According to Bishop Umemura,
conclusions seem to have
been reached on five
major points.
In response to the request
from the Congregation
that at the entrance
and the conclusion of
Mass the priest kiss
the altar after bowing
to it, as prescribed
in the Latin edition
of the Missal, the Japanese
bishops explained once
again that since in Japan
it is not customary to
offer a kiss as a sign
of respect, a bow was
deemed sufficient. They
proposed that the priest
touch the altar with
both of his hands as
he bows, and the prefect
appeared to agree to
this.
Until now in Japan, the
response to the priest's
greeting, "The grace
of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and
the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you," and
others has been, "And
also with the priest." The
Congregation has requested
that the response be, "And
with your spirit," a
direct translation of
the Latin. The Japanese
side said that since
the word "spirit" is
open to misunderstanding
they proposed "And
also with you," but
they were told to translate "spirit" and
add explanatory words
if necessary.
For the Latin words "through
my fault, through my
fault, through my most
grievous fault" in
the Confiteor, the Japanese
version has "I have
frequently committed
sins" and "pray
for me, a serious sinner." The
Congregation understood
that in Japan it is not
customary to repeat words
in an apology, but they
requested that the translation
be a closer expression
of the Latin meaning
of the words. The prefect
requested that the expression "grievous" be
further emphasized.
In response to the request
of the Congregation that
the phrase "resurrection
of the body" in
the Apostles' Creed be
translated "resurrection
of the flesh," the
Japanese side said that
they are unable to give
a literal translation,
and the prefect accepted
this.
The prayer before receiving
Holy Communion, "Lord,
you are Christ, the Son
of God ... if I were
to leave you, to whom
could I go?" in
the present Missal is
approved by the Vatican,
but the Congregation
has requested that a
translation of the original
Latin version be used.
The Japanese side proposed
that such a translation
be offered as an option
along with the current
response, but the Congregation
replied that only the
original response is
to be used.
After these negotiations
the Japanese liturgy
committee is awaiting
a formal response from
the Congregation.
JAPANESE SALESIAN IN BOLIVIA 'UNBELIEVABLY HAPPY' SERVING POOR
Catholic
Weekly, January 27, 2008
One in four Bolivians
is forced to seek work
abroad and 70 percent
of the population lives
in poverty. Fr. Terunobu
Kurahashi, 70, is a Japanese
Salesian who has spent
27 years working in Bolivia.
The priest's day starts
before six o'clock each
morning and he says Mass,
administers the sacraments,
performs blessings, visits
the sick and people in
prison, and directs people
involved in religious
education before his
day ends at 10:00 pm.
As a school chaplain,
he is responsible for
the spiritual welfare
of 6,400 children. Along
with two American priests
he coordinates pastoral
activities of the parish
of Santa Cruz in Santa
Cruz province. The parish
has one church and nine
mission stations serving
a Catholic population
of over 60,500 people,
and every day poor people
come to him looking for
assistance and advice.
"I cannot refuse children
who sleep on the streets,
elderly people and unmarried
mothers and the poor
who come to me saying,
'give me some food,'
'help me!' But I can
only give them very little.
When you are truly in
need and think, 'I have
no money, what shall
I do,' God often helps
us in unexpected ways.
Every day I pray, 'God
help us!'"
The first indigenous
president of Bolivia
took office in January
2006. Government changed
to the social democracy
movement (MAS), and since
all public officials
were replaced, political
and economic confusion
continued, prices rose,
and the lives of the
poor who already did
not have enough to eat
became increasingly difficult.
The new government tried
to expand the rights
of indigenous peoples
who had been oppressed
for 400 years, but "emotional
problems" surfaced
among the various ethnic
groups.
"Quarrels broke out in
some places, some prefectures
had strikes against the
central government, and
in some places it seems
that all social services
ceased to function," said
the priest.
There was no political
unrest in the parish
of Santa Cruz, but in
one year the price of
rice tripled, food prices
rose, and there was a
large increase in crime
and in the number of
people suffering from
malnourishment.
There are many street
children in Bolivia.
Sometimes when parents
have to leave home to
work they entrust their
children to relatives
and then children run
away because of friction
with them. In other cases,
while the father is away
working the family breaks
up. To supplement family
income children begin
selling newspapers from
an early age on the streets,
shining shoes, watching
cars or other such jobs.
"Like other religious
congregations and organizations,
the Salesians are trying
to help street children
and are developing a
project to build public
schools in poor areas
around the country," Fr.
Kurahashi said. "Where
schools have been built,
children are now able
to go to school in five
minutes when formerly
they had to walk about
five kilometers."
A large number of people
suffering from tuberculosis
as well as street children
have received hope again
through help from the
Church. Fr. Kurahashi
has also taken in children
who would have been aborted
by their mothers and
assists with their education
as a foster parent.
The priest said that
though Bolivia is a poor
country there can be
many joys in daily life
there.
"I am unbelievably happy
in Bolivia. The poor
people live each day
praying, 'God help us,'
and so they are spiritually
rich and can have a bright
smile," he said
happily.
BISHOPS PREPARE FOR HOKKAIDO G8 SUMMIT
Catholic
Weekly, January 27,
2008
Japan's bishops met for
the 14th Social Issues
Workshop for Bishops
at the Tokyo headquarters
of the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan Jan.
10-11. Since the G8 summit
(the annual meeting of
the Group of Eight countries,
including Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan,
Russia, the United Kingdom,
and the United States)
is scheduled to take
place in Toyako, Hokkaido,
July 7-9, the theme of
the workshop was "The
G8 and the Catholic Church," with
discussion focusing on
what kind of influence
the Church can have.
The first day began with
an introductory speech
by Divine Word Fr. Michael
Siegel of Nanzan University's
social ethics research
division. Since the main
theme of the Toyako Summit
is the global environmental
crisis, Siegel emphasized
the importance of resolving
three problems facing
the economic world -- manufacturing,
sustainability and energy -- in
the context of the Christian
steward's responsibility
to nurture and protect
the earth. He also introduced
his "completion
principle," one
that urges for nations
to be autonomous, and
criticized the G8 for
the way the leading countries
impose their will on
the world at large.
Kinhide Mushakoji, who
has devoted his life
to international relations
and peace research, gave
the main lecture. Explaining
the state of the world
in 1975, when the G8
assembled at their first
summit, he began his
criticism, saying, "The
rich countries alone
were gathering in an
undemocratic way, as
(other countries) suffered
poverty and debt due
to the G8 neoliberal
policy objectives."
He described the current
G8 focus as "addressing
the speculative nature
of the world economy,
environmental concerns,
and terror countermeasures."
He explained, "They
cannot tackle these issues
individually; these issues
unite the G8 countries," and
suggested that the Church
can help the situation
by presenting alternative
ideas to the G8 leaders
when they meet to discuss
the problems of the day.
"With respect to Benedict
XVI's big vision, in
the time when the Church
was supporting European
civilization, it was
also a melting pot Church
and a poor southern countries'
Church. Thinking about
how those disparate views
came together, perhaps
the G8 can learn something
from the vision of the
Church."
When bishops asked why
he wasn't talking more
about terrorism, Mushakoji
answered that war would
not end the threat of
terrorism through short-term
strikes.
"While we are subject
to human uncertainty
and unrest, it is vital
to stop terror at its
roots, and we must continue
to condemn the war on
terror," he said.
At an NGO Forum on the
second day, leaders of
Caritas Japan and the
Japan Catholic Council
for Justice and Peace
explained their goal
to support other citizens'
groups and NGOs who have
plans for the summit.
The forum was divided
into three groups: Poverty
and Development, Peace
and Human Rights, and
The Environment. The
issues were addressed
more in detail, and the
participants announced
their intention to hold
an "Alternative
Summit" as a citizens'
group.
SVD Father Daisuke Seii,
secretary of Caritas
Japan, explained the
plight of countries heavily
in debt who repeatedly
approach the G8 asking
for debt forgiveness,
and urged the Alternative
Summit to address the
topic so that progress
toward the elimination
of poverty would not
be abandoned.
The workshop continued
with a bishops' conference
meeting on the state
of society, where the
Church leaders discussed
the goals they will pursue
as a conference at the
G8 summit. They talked
about once again uniting
with the other G8 countries'
bishops' conferences
to send letters to the
G8 leaders, as had been
done last year for the
summit in Germany. They
also discussed holding
a prayer meeting at Sapporo's
Kitaichijyo Church to
coincide with the summit.
YOUTH AT MATSUYAMA CHURCH FORM PUPPET THEATER TO 'NOURISH HEARTS'
Catholic
Weekly, January 20, 2008
The Hiraoka Players,
a volunteer puppet troupe
formed by young people
at the Matsuyama Church
in Ehime Prefecture,
are eagerly sought out
by institutions for the
elderly, organizers of
events related to public
welfare, and so on.
Last Dec. 16, the Hiraoka
Players appeared at a "Festival
of Friendship" gathering
for the disabled. They
offered a performance
of Doro Kabura (Muddy
Turnip, a story about
a physically ugly girl
who, following the words
of her grandfather, persevered
in a life marked with
the height of human character
and, in the end, became
beautiful in both mind
and body). It was the
troupe's first large-scale
performance, but at the
positive reaction of
the audience, the young
people who had performed
remarked with evident
relief, "We were
nervous, but we're very
happy to have been able
to give it all we had."
The puppet troupe was
formed when Matsumi Hiraoka,
who was working as a
receptionist at the Matsuyama
Church, was asked, "Is
there a youth volunteer
group at this church?"
She responded by recruiting
young people to form
the puppet group. They
began with eight members,
and everything from the
proper way of manipulating
the puppets to stagecraft
had to be learned as
if groping around in
the dark. Hiraoka, who
had some prior experience,
made the puppets by hand,
while the rest did the
same for the props; music
was the responsibility
of the youths themselves.
Everyone collaborated
to develop full-scale
productions from some
core scenarios provided
by Hiraoka.
Every Saturday last September
and October, the troupe
was kept busy with invitations
from institutions for
seniors throughout the
area. Audiences joined
in with the children's
songs that were played
during the performance
and, afterwards, sang
yet more songs from their
youth. The performers
said, "We want to
give a performance that
stays in the hearts,
nourishes the hearts
of people who watch it," and
it seems that they conveyed
their message.
The Hiraoka Players are
currently in production
with 16 members. Among
those who have been part
of the troupe are some
who received catechesis
and baptism or entered
the convent while acting
in the group. Many are
college students or professionals,
and almost all are in
their twenties. They
work hard practicing,
aiming to do "something
of service to society."
Besides their performances,
the troupe spent a year
making all the figurines
of humans and animals
for their church's Christmas
creche scene -- fifty
miniatures including
Mary, the three wise
men, shepherds, sheep,
camels and people wearing
clothes from all over
the world. Several local
newspapers carried stories
about the creche.
Until now, the group
has performed old favorites
such as The Little
Match Girl, Toshishun (a story
about a man who turns
from a miserly life of
serendipitous riches
to a life of charity),
and Doro Kabura, but
this year they say they
want to attempt something
new. The Hiraoka Players
hope to continue delivering
enjoyment and warmth
to less fortunate members
of society.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS COMMENT ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Catholic Weekly, January 20, 2008
The International Institute
for the Study of Religions
(IISR, director Eiki
Hoshino) held a symposium: "How
can religious organizations
support school education" at
Taisho University, Tokyo,
Dec. 8, 2007. Eighty
religious leaders from
all over the country
looked at Article 15
of the revised Fundamental
Law of Education issued
in 2006 that calls for
the promotion of religious
culture in schools.
Four speakers reported
on the situation of religious
education in their religions.
They were Yorio Fujumoto,
researcher in the theological
research office of the
Association of Shinto
Shrines, Soten Akamatsu,
monk of Honseiji temple
of the Myoshinji school
of Rinzai Zen Buddhism,
Hiroto Kayama, chaplain
of the Anglican Rikkyo
University and Yodo Kawamura,
president of the Educational
Research Institute for
Teachers of Rissho Kosei
Kai Buddhism.
Fujimoto and Kawamura
spoke of the supports
given to teacher-believers
at their educational
research institutes.
Fujimoto said that Shinto
priests gave school children
and local people practical
lessons on court music.
They also explained myths
and supported ecological
education on visit to
the woods of village
gods. At the same time
he pointed out that number
of priests qualified
with the teacher's
certificate is decreasing.
Akamatsu, a Buddhist
monk in Wakayama, focused
on the importance of
obtaining understanding
from local people as
to what the religion's
messages were through
actions and deeds, for
instance by greeting
children on their way
to school every morning.
Kayama declared that
there was no need to
provide religious education
in public schools even
under the new law. He
recognized that what
was required of chaplains
was to offer opportunities
for students to experience
a Christian life through
practicing mediation,
Zen-like breathing exercises,
agricultural field work
in Korea etc. so that
they might reflect on
their way of life and
make a new start.
Kikuko Hirafuji, lecturer
at Kokugakuin University,
responding to the speeches,
said, "The new law
demands a new approach
that can provide students
with a general understanding
of religion. What is
required of our religious
communities is to nourish
teachers who cover the
wide range of knowledge
about religions. To help
accomplish this I want
to propose a trial to
exchange teaching material
via the Internet."
She continued, "Is
a neutral education possible?"
In response to a question
from Hirafuji about the
feasibility of a non-biased
presentation of religion,
Kawamura answered, "What
is neutrality? That is
the question. Adhering
to a religion can one
be neutral? It is quite
hard. Is there anyone
who can be fair?"
Fujimoto commented, "The
principle of separation
of religion from politics
can be a hurdle to
prevent taking pupils
to Shinto shrines."
Nobutaka Inoue, professor
of Kokugakuin University
closed the session
with the observation
that as education
necessarily looks
at next generations
we are supposed to
take a step forward
on religious education.
In times difficult
as these all are
invited to be more
serious in looking
for new approaches
to religious education
in schools.
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