Japan Catholic News
March 2006
SISTERS DISCUSS CARE OF IMMIGRANTS IN JAPAN
Catholic Weekly, March 26
 Sisters involved in serving foreigners in Japan and particularly providing
pastoral care for Christians among them heard from a bishop that caring
for refugees and migrants is not an adjunct to work for the Church
in Japan, but an integral part of caring for the needs of all Catholics
that enriches the whole Church.
To increase contacts, further solidarity and foster a sense of special
mission among these sisters, the Catholic Commission of Japan for Migrants,
Refugees and People on the Move held a Pastoral Care of Foreigners' Seminar
at the Japan Catholic Center March 15.
The seminar was co-sponsored by the Federation of the Superiors and
Provincials of Women's Religious Orders. Over 70 sisters participated,
representing 30 religious orders and every diocese outside of Kyushu
and Shikoku.
"
This is probably the first time that so many sisters involved in this
work have gathered together," said Bishop Daiji Tani, bishop
of Saitama and chairman of the commission.
In the main speech of the seminar, the bishop mentioned that a cardinal
and others opposed the strengthening of immigration control law in
America. Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles has called upon the
priests of his diocese to defy any unjust immigration laws, even if
it means imprisonment.
"
Just as Jesus picked ears of corn on the Sabbath, laws do not take
priority over human rights," said Bishop Tani. "Human rights
are greater. In the present circumstances we have to appeal to Japanese
society about this," he said, emphasizing the importance of the
role of the Church in Japan, where restrictions on foreigners are increasing.
He went on to stress the importance of listening intently and forming
teams rather than trying to tackle problems alone when working with
foreigners.
During the seminar Sisters Remedios Carmen Roksin of the Religious
of the Assumption, Dominico Consuello of the Missionaries of Christ
Jesus, and Takra Hiromi of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred
Heart, who for many years have been involved in assisting foreigners,
talked of their work over the past 10 to 20 years.
The sisters said that there are many difficulties in their work: the
condition of foreigners in Japan is as severe as ever; the sisters
have been deceived by people they helped andsome of those they were
assisting have disappeared.
"
Each day is very tiring, but there is an inexpressible joy in being
useful to others," said Sister Consuello.
According to Sr. Roksin, the role of the nuns is to "be a bridge
between Japanese and migrants, to view from both sides people of different
cultures and show respect and understanding."
Sr. Takaryo said that for people in need "sisters come quickly" and
this was one of their special characteristics.
At the end of the seminar there was time for free discussion.
During that period, several practical questions were raised by participants,
such as "What do you do when a Brazilian wishes to get married
and they have no baptismal certificate?" and "What documents
are most important for a Filipino when they are faced with visa and
other problems?"
These inquiries drew responses from other participants who offered
practical advice based on their own experience.
"
We are sent by the community to do this work, so let us work together
and get tired together," said one of the participants from Saitama,
Sister Anna Arubardo of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
NPO THAT CHANNELS SURPLUS FOOD TO POOR WANTS
MORE CHURCH ACTION
Catholic Weekly, March 26
 According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in
2003 over 11 million tons of food was discarded in Japan. Second Harvest
Japan (formerly named Food Port) is a Non-Profit organization (NPO) that
tries to send even some of this food to people in need.
"
If there is a place that need us, we will certainly go there," said
Kosaku Shibata (49) a parishoner of Adachi Church in Tokyo and one of the
directors of Second Harvest Japan. Shibata spends much of his free time working
for the NPO. So far he has carried food to over one hundred different places,
including child-care centers and shelters for the homeless.
Generally, food is disposed if too much has been produced or if the
packaging is damaged. The cost of disposing of it is estimated to be 100
yen per kilogram.
Companies and shops donate food to Second Harvest on condition that
it not be sold by the group. Second Harvest Japan only accepts food that
has not passed its sell-by date.
Charles E. McJilton (42), the executive director of Second Harvest
Japan, himself a Catholic, said that cooperation from the Catholic Church
with the organization's efforts is insufficient.
"
We have proposed to various Catholic organizations that they accept
food for distribution. But each time the response is 'we will consider
it' and 'it is too much bother.'"
If there were greater cooperation from Catholic organizations that
assist poor people, more food would go to the people who need it, he said.
"
Although there are poor people, is the Church concerned about them?" asked
McJilton.
As one of its activities the group sends food parcels to foreigners
who have applied for recognition as refugees. Each week over 30 kilograms
of food is received by Kurds, Cubans and people of other nationalities.
 Although Shibata has not met them personally, he said he has received
telephone calls from people asking for help or saying how tasty the food
was that they received. He said that after such telephone calls he feels
he "has to continue" and "cannot rest."
Shibata said that the Catholic Church today appears to him to be like
a "neighborhood association."
"
Only people of social standing and who have time are there. Poor people
do not feel comfortable in the Church. I would like the Church to truly be
at the service of people who are suffering."
For further information, contact Second Harvest Japan.
Tel/Fax: 03-3838-3827
Website: http://www.secondharvestjapan.org/
PARISH MARKS 50 YEARS BY CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
OF AID TO INDIA
Catholic Weekly, March 12
Twenty years ago when the Iwata Church in the Yokohama diocese was
looking for concrete ways to implement the diocesan motto, "Seeking
to Become a Community Open to Others," parishioners decided to support
the education of children and the construction of churches in Haruru in India's
Tamil Nadu state.
The decision was prompted by a letter that their pastor, Paris Foreign
Mission Father Jean Barbier, received from a childhood friend and fellow
Paris Foreign Missioner asking help for the people of Haruru, who were suffering
from a drought.
Reiko Matsutani, who has been helping with the India Scholarship Fund
Program for many years, said, "That year happened to be the 50th Anniversary
of the Yokohama Diocese and the 30th Anniversary of the Iwata parish. Being
particularly conscious at that time of the fact that we were able to build
the Iwata Church because of contributions from the people of Fr. Barbier's
home town in France, we decided to gather funds to enable the people from
that town in India to dig wells to alleviate the suffering resulting from
the drought."
"
Later we also decided to set up the Haruru Church Fountain of Love
Scholarship Fund for children in that town," she added. "We have
continued this support up to the present."
Parents of children at Iwata St. Mary's Kindergarten, graduates of
the kindergarten and people of the town have contributed to this fund. There
was even a prisoner convicted of murder (now deceased) who sent money he
earned by his work in prison for the fund.
Iwata Church had a ceremony February 5 to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
Among those attending was a priest who had come from India to mark the parish's
ties with that country.
Iwata Church was founded by Fr. Barbier, who had been imprisoned by
the Chinese Communists and was later expelled from China before arriving
in Japan 1952 at the age of 30.
SALESIAN SCHOOL ADAPTS TO NEW NEEDS
Catholic Weekly, March 19
 Throughout history, along with giving spiritual guidance to believers,
the Church has also taught people agricultural, industrial and other
skills through which they could earn a living. In Japan during the post-war
reconstruction
period the Salesian Polytechnic college played a role in providing
vocational training. Since then, Japan has changed, and the program of the
Salesian
Polytechnic has changed as well.
Last year the school moved to a new campus in Tokyo's Machida City.
At the entrance a solar car, powered by electricity from solar batteries,
is on display. In one of the workshops a glider that appeared in Yomiuri
Television's Birdman Contest is suspended from the ceiling. Along with ordinary
classrooms where lectures are held, there is a row of workshops for industrial
arts, machine crafts, electricity, drafting, web design, sketching, sculpture,
etc.
"
Saint John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Order, called on people
to 'acquire a skill.' In the nineteenth century, when the industrial
revolution arrived in Italy, he taught dressmaking, printing, shoemaking
and carpentry, the basic skills of the time, to children who were exploited
and made to work long hours," said Salesian Father Tsugio Tanaka (66),
the principal. In the same spirit, he added, the printing techniques and
carpentry that began to be taught in Japan after 1934 were the forerunner
of the present Salesian Polytechnic.
The curriculum at the school has changed in keeping with the modernization
of Japan.
Vice-Principal Tsutomu Kojima (60) explained that after the Second
World War, an electrical engineering department was added.
"
Along with carpentry and printing this became the school's third pillar" he
said.
In 1963 the school changed from a three-year technical school to a
five-year polytechnic and students' technical skills were raised to
university level. At that time printing, electronics and design were the
main subjects. As time passed printing was computerized and departments of
electronics and information technology were added. There was greater emphasis
also on design.
"
The art factor became stronger" added Kojima.
In 2001 a two-year "specialization course" was set up for those
who had completed the five-year course. This stretched the available program
to seven years, the same as university undergraduate education, and students
could receive a bachelor's degree. Some students have gone on to graduate
school.
 Though the nature of the technical skills taught at the school has
changed, Fr. Tanaka said that the basic stance of "acquiring skills" has
not changed.
Vice-Principal Kojima gave the example of learning about the distribution
of voltage during the fourth-year electromagnetic course. Because students
have already been measuring voltage in their second year practical work the
new material is simple for them.
"
When you start something difficult from practical work the threshold
of study is lowered. Isn't 'experience a treasure!' In this way
through making things we make people."
Fr. Tanaka commented that the level of satisfaction on the part of
parents of students is high.
"
There are many parents who are happy to see that their children's interests
turn toward study," he said.
INDIAN PRIEST DRAWS PEOPLE TO PRAYER WITH YOGA
UCAN/Catholic Weekly, March 26
 SHIMONOSEKI (UCAN) -- Every Thursday evening at 7:30, about 10 people
gather to practice yoga in the library of Chofu Catholic Church in
Shimonoseki, western Japan.
In July, when the weather gets hot, they move to the chapel. Their
teacher is Father Alex Varickamakal, a Jesuit born in Kerala, southern India.
The 49-year-old priest started to teach yoga here in 2001 and is now
teaching in three parishes and a public community center in this town of
Yamaguchi prefecture, about 800 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.
Yuko Sakai, one of the yoga students, told a reporter she would come "even
if it meant changing my work schedule." For her, an hour of yoga is "time
that provides relief from my busy life."
Chofu parish started to host the yoga classes in 2005, on the initiative
of Shizuka Harada, a parishioner.
Harada said that when she heard of Father Varickamakal's yoga classes
in the other parishes, she thought, "This may be a chance to bring new
people to our parish." She suggested the idea to her husband, who heads
the parish council.
Harada, her husband and their daughter prepare the parish hall for
the class and collect voluntary donations to cover Father Varickamakal's
expenses.
Drawn by word of mouth, people who had never been to the parish started
to come. Young parishioners asked for the class to be at night, after work.
Harada, who also takes part in the yoga class, described her own experience: "It
calms me down. After doing yoga, I feel refreshed."
Yoga became popular in Japan after magazines published features on
Hollywood actresses doing yoga as a way to keep fit. "But they use yoga
just for money," Father Varickamakal commented.
The priest traces his yoga practice back about 20 years ago, to when
he was a seminarian in India. "Yoga goes beyond exercise. It is a time
of prayer that reaches the level of soul, fulfilling it," he said.
"
Yoga is suitable to settling one's mind and leading one to silence," the
priest added, noting that Blessed Teresa of Kolkata had called prayer "the
fruit of silence."
"
I use it as an opportunity for people to encounter God," he continued,
explaining that "no one would be interested" if he used the word "religion." But
he uses words of the Bible for the meditation that ends the yoga sessions.
Recalling his first yoga class here, Father Varickamakal said it was
in Hosoe parish, where he lives, and the intention was "to open our
Church to our neighbors."
Later, due to a lack of space, he started to rent a room in a public
community center, which later asked him to run classes for the center. The
priest also runs classes in Hikojima parish. Participation in all the priest's
groups is free, but many who take part make contributions to cover expenses.
One of his students, Sadako Nagaoka, explained how the practice has
benefited her. She said that she started last April after hearing about it
from a friend, and that a bothersome back pain went away from the very first
time she started practicing,. That was not the only effect.
"
My mind is filled with joy. With this joy, I don't even think of quarreling.
This sense of refreshment is incomparable. I'm now so much more interested
in prayer," testified Sadako, who said she had never been to a Catholic
church before she started the yoga classes.
CATHOLIC TV PROGRAM ENDS AFTER 39 YEARS
UCAN/Catholic Weekly, March 19
KYOTO, Japan (UCAN) -- A Catholic television program with a 39-year
history of presenting Catholicism to a broad section of the public in Japan
will cease broadcasting at the end of March.
The weekly program, Kokoro no Tomoshibi (light of the heart), has been
hailed as a unique example of Catholic evangelization in the secular
mass media in Japan. From the start it has been produced by the Yoki
Bokusha Undo (YBU, good shepherd movement), based in Kyoto, about 380
kilometers west of Tokyo.
Guided by the philosophy that with encouragement, each person is capable
of changing the world for the better, YBU uses various media to present
its message and runs a correspondence course on Catholicism for those
who want to know more about the Church.
The television program lost much of its audience eight years ago, when
a major television network that had been airing the 15-minute program
stopped doing so. Since then the program has been available only on
local or satellite channels.
Father James Hyatt, 83, a former Maryknoll Missioner who is now a Tokyo
diocesan priest, started YBU in 1952 by publishing pamphlets. In 1957,
he started a daily five-minute radio program, which is still on the
air, and then in 1966, when television was new to Japan, he began broadcasting
in that new medium. The program features interviews with various people,
including those with little or no connection to the Church.
In a written statement provided to Katorikku Shimbun (Catholic weekly),
Father Hyatt said the decision eight years ago on the part of the Nippon
Television network (NTV) to stop broadcasting the YBU program ended
its mass media access in the major cities of Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya,
Osaka and Tokyo. YBU, however, continued to produce the program for
broadcast on 26 local television stations and satellite channels.
"
But," said Father Hyatt, "because they put it on at 5 in
the morning, there were few people who watched the program. For satellite
channels, the number is even less. Yet the cost of production remains
enormous, so we decided to end the television program."
Redemptorist Father Masahiro Kondoh, 66, who has worked for the program,
said that when he asked for financial help, "sometimes people
said, 'Oh, are you still doing it?'"
Father Kondoh said he realized that most Catholics are unaware that
YBU still exists.
Nozomi Murata, 37, the program's anchor for the past eight years, said, "Mission
through the mass media is important, because the audience brings its
reaction directly to the local churches." She pointed out that
the program delivered "the message of the Church in a very comprehensive
way by having non-Catholic as well as Catholic guests."
Father Peter Von Essen, 74, a Capuchin Franciscan, was involved in
the television program in the 1980s. Commenting on the end of its 39-year
run, he said: "I don't feel disappointed, but very grateful to
God. So many people received grace thanks to Father Hyatt and his many
supporters."
The last program will be aired on March 30. YBU will continue to produce
radio programs as well as weekly brochures for parishes, and will maintain
its Internet website at (http://www.tomoshibi.or.jp).
VIOLENCE NOT PART OF ISLAM, SAYS JAPANESE MUSLIM
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 19
 A leader of Islam in Japan said that violence is not a part of
the religion.
There are no ordained ministers in Islam, and people are guided
by religious leaders who have other occupations. Kimiaki Tokumasu (62),
is a businessman and one of the few Japanese experts in Islamic law,
having studied at al-Hazar University in Cairo, which has a history of
over 1000 years. Tokumasu is the chairman of the Japan Muslim Association,
the main Muslim organization in Japan.
According to Tokumasu, there are 100,000 Muslims in Japan, of whom
about 10 percent are Japanese.
Tokumasu said that as a universal religion, Islam's principles
enshrine peace and moderation. It does not force people to convert from
other religions and tries to co-exist with them, he added.
" This is often misunderstood," he said. "The purpose of every
religion in society is to improve society. Islam is the same."
He continued, "Famous scholars from every Islamic country say this
also -- we Muslims do not know Islam. In other words, we have
to educate the young people again. It is because they do not know
Islam that they carry out suicide explosions, which are forbidden
acts."
Specifically referring to the recent publication in a Danish newspaper
of cartoons that caricatured Mohammed, Tokumasu said, "of course
I do not feel good about an insult to the prophet Mohammed. The problem
is what kind of an attitude we should take on the matter."
He emphasized that violence is not allowed by Islamic doctrine. "Terrorism
and violent acts are forbidden. If possible, one should deal with things
in an amicable manner. But when one hundred people come together there
are some who cannot hold down their feelings."
He also spoke about the attitude of the mass media. "Stories on
Islam are only about terrorism and explosions. I was in Riyadh during
the Gulf War, and a telephone call came from a Japanese reporter asking
me, 'Isn't it dangerous?' 'No,' I said, 'I'm
doing my laundry.' That should have been an article!"
Tokumasu is involved in dialogue with other religions. "The role
of religious leaders is to dialogue with each other, and along with that
to talk more to each other. And I think that religious leaders should
also talk with ordinary citizens."
According to Tokumasu, since the World Trade Center terrorist attack
in the United States in 2001, "the image of Islam has gone down
more and more, but young people want to know about Islam. The number
of inquiries has increased, and the number of believers has also increased.
People seem to have noticed that they do not know very much."
NEW BISHOP OF SENDAI SEES HIS ROLE AS 'ADHESIVE'
UCAN 
SENDAI
(UCAN) -- After two years with no bishop, Sendai diocese rejoiced
at the March 4 episcopal ordination of Bishop Tetsuo Hiraga.
About 1,500 people, including 16 bishops from all over the country, gathered
in the hall of the Sendai Shirayuri Gakuen girls' high school in Sendai, about
300 kilometers north of Tokyo.
In his homily, Archbishop Takeo Okada of Tokyo, referred to Pope Benedict XVI's
recent encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is love), in giving his advice to
the new bishop. "Living by God's love, empowered by it, carry out this work
as bishop," he said.
According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan, Sendai diocese has
11,152 Catholics served by 56 parishes and 10 mission stations. Bishop Hiraga,
61, is from Iwate, one of the four prefectures that make up the diocese.
During the Mass, the former head of the diocese, Bishop Osamu Mizobe, recalled
the death of his predecessor, Bishop Chihiro Satoh.
" At the moment of his death, I told him: 'You have done a great job. Thank you.'
Now that you, Bishop Hiraga, are taking this position, I would like to thank
you deeply as well." Bishop Mizobe left to head Takamatsu diocese in 2004.
Father Hiraku Kawai, a priest of Sendai, shared with the congregation how the
new bishop ministered humbly to others as a priest. He said his former clerical
co-worker assisted the late Bishop Satoh when he was sick, doing it without
fuss or drawing attention to himself.
Father Kawai urged Sendai diocese to "unite" and "take new steps ... following
the example of piety that our new bishop has shown us."
Shota Kawanaka, from the parish of Morioka, where the new bishop used to work,
told a reporter he is "so glad" about the episcopal appointment, as the new
prelate is "someone I know." The 22-year-old layman added: "He said that he
will work with the youth too. I really look forward to it."
Ursuline Sister Jeanine Fournier remarked that the new bishop "worked so much
for foreigners" when she worked in Sendai. "I really hope he will keep working
for them," she added.
The various comments reinforced what the pope said in his Dec. 10 letter of
appointment, which was read out at the start of the Mass: "I have determined
that you, who are gifted with the necessary talents and seasoned in the realities
of the Church in the region, are suited to govern this diocese."
 Hisaoki
Yamura, from the parish of Hanamaki, where Bishop Hiraga was baptized
as a high-school student, was excited for yet another reason. "Our
parish is small, yet it has produced three priests, and now one
is even a bishop. What a grace!" he said.
Bishop Hiraga's elder brother, a lawyer in Tokyo, also shared his
reaction with a reporter, recalling the new bishop's days in the
seminary. "I used to
take my buddies to play baseball with the seminarians. He's blessed by so many
people today -- I'm very moved," the brother said.
The next day, Catholics from the diocese's Central Sendai district gathered
at the cathedral for Mass with the new bishop.
Bishop Hiraga opened his homily by saying, "Well, this is what you got as an
answer to your prayer for a new bishop."
He went on to describe the "adhesive" nature of his new ministry. "I think
that a bishop is like glue that unites you all, something like adhesive. Praising
God and praying together, let's all work as one Church for Christ," he said.
" I love driving," he added, "so I'll be running around to link all of you."
PROFILE: NEW SENDAI BISHOP SURPRISED AT HIS APPOINTMENT
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 12 
Bishop Tetsuo Hiraga (61), the new bishop of Sendai, admits
he was surprised at his appointment.
" Since I was named diocesan administrator, I figured I would
never be the one chosen as bishop," he said.
When the late Bishop Chihiro Sato retired in 1998, it took
until 2000 for a new bishop to be named. During those two
years Fr. Tatsuei Takanohashi served as diocesan administrator until
Bishop
Osamu Mizobe was named. "I expected we would have to wait a
long time - just as we had to for Bishop Mizobe's appointment," said
Bishop Hiraga.
Bishop Mizobe has since been transferred to Takamatsu.
At that time, Catholics in Takamatsu sent a letter to Sendai,
saying, "We're
sorry. You must feel like we stole him from you. We send our thanks."
Bishop Hiraga comes from Hanamaki Parish in Iwate. As a
high school student he used to pass a church every day
on his way to school. He often thought, "I'd like to drop in and
see the church."
In April of his senior year he did so for the first time
and by the time he graduated he had received baptism.
Asked why he decided to be baptized, he said "Like most other
young people, I often wondered about the meaning of life. Neither
my parents nor my siblings were Christians, but there was a Japanese-English
Bible at home and it made me wonder just what this book called the
Bible really was."
Three priests have come from Hanamaki Parish, Bishop Hiraga,
Fr. Tadashi Oikawa (SVD) and Fr. Tsutomu Itagaki (Sendai Diocese).
All of them were baptized by the late Fr. August Gaehwiler (Bethlehem
Foreign Mission Society).
ANNIVERSARY OF POPE JOHN PAUL VISIT MARKED BY
HIROSHIMA DIOCESE
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 5 
Churches throughout Hiroshima diocese organized a variety of events
February 25-26 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul's1981
visit there.
In Hiroshima City, Masses for peace were offered on both days in
the cathedral at Noboricho. About 600 people attended on the 26th.
Churches in other districts held study sessions and film showings.
The diocesan Executive Committee for Events to Appeal for Peace
organized the events.
In his sermon during Mass on the 26th, Hiroshima Bishop Atsumi
Misue referred to Pope John Paul's "Appeal for World
Peace".
" To think of Hiroshima," the bishop said, "is to pray
for the abolition of nuclear war. This celebration of the 25th.anniversary
does not mean our mission is ended. The important years lie ahead.
We must make peace a reality in the lives we lead every day."
An annual get-together for Korean and Japanese students coincided
with the anniversary commemoration, and the students from the two
countries also participated in the events. Among the offerings
carried to the altar during Mass was a rosary they made of origami
cranes.
Fr. Han Sunju (43) of the Suwon diocese in Korea addressed the
congregation at the end of Mass.
" On our side also," he said, "we must do everything
in our power to achieve peace. We must fight for it."
Following the Mass, the church held an event called "The
Message We Must Hand on to Our Children." A choir of children
representing the Hiroshima diocese gave a concert and recited prayers
they had composed themselves --- "Boy Soldiers" and "Witness
to the Atomic Bomb." They closed with the words, "May
the day come when all the people of the world will pray for peace."
Toward the end of the celebration, the students attending the Japan-Korean
students' get-together read an appeal for peace. They recited
this in chorus in Japanese and Korean --- "We must listen
to the witness of the victims of the bomb and see in them the figure
of Christ crucified. Our hearts were opened here today. We learned
the importance of guarding and preserving the peace that Christ
bequeathed to us. We must love one another and spare no pains in
working for peace." Their appeal was greeted with applause.
It was on February 25, 1981 that Pope John Paul II made his appeal
for world peace. "I appeal to the young people of the world.
Cannot we join hands and build together a new future founded in
love and solidarity?"
In closing, Bishop Misue said it was his hope that the anniversary
celebrations would emphasize the importance and significance of
Hiroshima's mission and the need to hand it on to the next
generation. The diocese, he said, will continue to celebrate this
day and keep alive the memory of the Pope's appeal.
PUTTING THE NET TO WORK FOR EVANGELIZATION
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 5 
The Church's use of media must reflect its spirituality,
said Naha Bishop Toshio Oshikawa in an address to some 70 participants
in the fifth national seminar of the Japan Catholic Committee for
the Media (Signis Japan) at Tokyo's Kojimachi Church Feb.
18. The theme of the gathering was The Internet as New Pioneer
for Evangelization: From Home Pages to Blogs.
Drawing a picture of what the ideal should be for the Church's
social communications, Bishop Oshikawa, a member of the executive
board of the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of
Asian Bishops' Conferences ( FABC ), said, "A meeting
with Christ that is based in Scripture and theology can be a life-giving
experience."
Citing recent issues that had come up for debate, the bishop spoke
about the different traditions of Asian religions and their spirituality.
The way we announce the Gospel, he said, should reflect what we
have learned from them.
The bishop also mentioned that in comparison with Churches in other
Asian countries Japan was not keeping up with the times.
Following the bishop's lecture, a four-member panel spoke
of their experience with blogging, the placing of short, frequently
updated comments on the Internet to be read by the general public.
They explained how it can be used and also pointed out some of
the problems to be avoided.
They said that for people who wish to get across a certain message
blogging is an easier mode than e-mail. Blogging makes it possible
to share one's ideas with a wider circle at the grass-roots
level. This, they emphasized, was the advantage in using it as
a means of evangelization.
Fr. Nakamaro Abe, a panelist, pointed out that "one can avoid
misunderstanding by stating one's premises and purpose at
the very beginning." He also pointed out things to watch
out for in using blogs.
Ms. Mariko Suzuki, who is in charge of the Tsuchiura Church home
page in Ibaraki prefecture, said, "I had been told that blogging
had plenty of problem spots but what I have heard today convinces
me we can use it effectively."
Tokyo diocesan priest, Fr. Masahide Haresaku, vice president of
Signis Japan, said in his address to the meeting that between 10
and 20 percent of those coming to his church had found their way
there through the internet.
" For people who are suffering," he said, "the computer
screen can be a window on heaven. By all means let us make use
of the internet for evangelization."
LITURGY AND THE TRINITY IS THEME OF WORKSHOP
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 5
Speaking at the 25th seminar sponsored by the Yokohama Diocesan
Liturgy Committee Feb. 11, Xaverian Father Franco Sottocornola
said that just as no amount of study on the nature of fire will
warm us, using our heads to try to understand the Holy Trinity
is futile.
The theme of the meeting at the Fujisawa Church in Kanagawa prefecture
was Liturgy Can Help Us Live the Life of the Trinity.
In his keynote address to some 390 participants, Fr. Sottocornola
said that we should try to gain a mystical experience of the Trinity.
We cannot experience the real joy of the liturgy, he said, if it
becomes a mere ceremony. We must be able to discover the love of
God portrayed for us through the signs and ceremonies.
If we believe passionately in the liturgy it will begin to influence
the life we lead every day, he continued. In the liturgy we must
strive for an awareness that we live in and by the Trinity. If
we can achieve that, he said, we shall experience the love of God.
One of the members of the Liturgy Committee, Mr. Shimpei Takahashi,
a parishioner of the Yamate Church in Yokohama, summed up what
he had learned at the seminar, saying that the Holy Trinity is
at work in all the sacraments bringing us the love of God. If we
live continually in an awareness of the Trinity our lives will
be filled with joy.
The Yokohama Diocesan Liturgy Committee holds seminars twice each
year with the object of realizing the liturgical renewal called
for by Vatican Council II. The spring seminar in February is open
to everyone; the autumn seminar in October is more specialized
and is aimed at members of parish liturgical committees and eucharistic
ministers.
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