Japan Catholic News
May 2008
ATONEMENT FRIARS MARK CENTENARY OF ECUMENICAL
EFFORTS
Catholic Weekly, May 25, 2008
 On
May 11, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, which has fostered
a "history of cooperation" between the American
Episcopal and the Roman Catholic Churches, held a lecture
event at Tsurumi Church in Yokohama, entitled "Catholic Perspectives
on the Outlook of Modern Ecumenism." The event marked the
centennial anniversary of the forerunner to today's "Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity," which began as an annual event
called the "Church
Unity Octave" founded by Paul Wattson, who was at the time a priest
in the American Episcopal Church.
Ecumenism could be called "the practice of Christian unity," in
which divided Christians -- Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant -- strive
for deeper interdenominational understanding, cooperate in various
fields and draw progressively closer to each other. More than 200 people
participated in the event, including representatives of Christian organizations
like Tsurumi Church, the Anglican-Episcopal Church of Japan and the
United Church of Christ in Japan. Nurses from Saint Joseph's School
and others attended as well.
Fr. Sanji Yamaoka, a 60-year-old Jesuit speaker, emphasized the importance
of Christian unity, saying, "There are many times when progress
won't be made, no matter how much you debate matters of doctrine. The
common bedrock underlying all Christians is Jesus Christ, our common
source, and our ability to pray together. Unity therefore begins by
praying as one."
The universal Christian Church was originally a single entity, but
over the course of history it fractured as strife arose among the brothers
and sisters of the one Christ, he said.
Ecumenical progress was kick-started in 1948 at the formation of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), an organization of various Protestant
denominations. The goal was not to meld disparate Churches into a single
sect, but rather to avoid such un-Christian inconsistencies as singing
hymns about peace while harboring deep divisions and to learn about
and help each other. Later, the Catholic Church associated with the
WCC, and the circle of Christian unity began to widen.
In recent years, even disputes over matters of doctrine such as justification,
papal authority, and Mary that lie at the heart of the disunity between
Catholics and Lutherans, Episcopalians, and other Protestant denominations
have one by one inched toward resolution. In Japan, too, we have entered
an age in which Catholics and Protestants meet and make common cause
in areas of evangelization, peace, and society.
Fr. Yamaoka said, "First, more than combining into a single group,
it is important that Christians seek concord, even though each group
will continue to recognize the differences between itself and other
Churches and value its own traditions. Ecumenism is like a pilgrimage,
and if you are a Catholic you must make this pilgrimage together with
your sibling Christian communities."
Himself a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, Fr. Yamaoka, though
he has joined the Catholic priesthood, is dedicated to efforts toward
Christian unity, such as participating in speaking and research events
with those of other denominations.
One participant, a convert from the Anglican-Episcopal Church of Japan
to Catholicism, commented, "It's a shame that, due to differences
of denomination, Christians can't receive the Eucharist together. And
anyway, isn't it discrimination to deny the Body of Christ to non-Catholics?"
Fr. Yamaoka responded that it was to be hoped that the day would come
when all Christians could receive the sacrament together, but went
on to raise the example of a certain Christian denomination in Japan
which had been plunged into deep confusion after deciding to offer
bread to all worshipers present.
He explained, "The reception of the Eucharist is an action of
total commitment. It has the meaning of being willing to die for and
with Christ, so essentially, if you can't say with resolution, "Lord,
I will die for you,' you cannot partake. It is a declaration of fundamental
allegiance to a specific, sacred community with Christ at its center.
It's not something you can just hand out to anyone."
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement were founded by Paul Wattson
in 1898, then an American Episcopalian but ordained a Catholic priest
after his conversion to Catholicism, who hoped strongly for Christian
unity. In 1909, the fraternity was accepted en masse into the Roman
Catholic Church. The promotion of ecumenism is one of its most important
goals.
BISHOP MIYAHARA INSTALLED AS NEW LEADER IN FUKUOKA
Catholic Weekly, May 25, 2008
 Bishop Ryoji Miyahara, 52, was officially installed as the
sixth bishop of Fukuoka on May 18 at the Fukuoka International
Center with some three thousand guests in attendance. The
installation of Bishop Miyahara, who had been bishop of Oita, ended
a two-year period following the sudden death of Bishop Hisajiro
Matsunaga on June 2, 2006 when Fukuoka was without a bishop.
On May 19 in Oita diocese, the diocesan advisory board chose Fr. Takashi
Taguchi as interim diocesan administrator in the wake of Bishop Miyahara's
transfer.
On the day of the installation, huge buses dropped off the guests hours
before the scheduled start, under a massive sign that proclaimed, "Bishop
Dominic Ryoji Miyahara's Fukuoka Diocese Installation Ceremony."
The ceremony started at 2 pm with the reading of the nomination announcement
given by Pope Benedict XVI on March 19, which officially released Bishop
Miyahara from his duties in Oita and bound him to the Fukuoka diocese.
The bishop received his crosier, the staff symbolic of his office,
before taking his seat on the cathedra, the bishop's seat. With his
inauguration complete, Bishop Miyahara continued with his first Mass
as bishop of Fukuoka.
In attendance were the apostolic nuncio in Japan, Archbishop Alberto
Bottari de Castello, 15 Japanese bishops, the bishop of Novara, Italy,
around 150 priests from all over Japan as well as many Religious and
lay Catholics.
In his sermon, Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki explained the
mission and duties of a bishop.
Recalling when he was appointed bishop of Oita in October 2000, Bishop
Miyahara said, "I was happy to go to Oita diocese. And now I should
say that I am happy to come to Fukuoka."
This is the third time in a row that a bishop has been transferred
into the Fukuoka diocese from another diocese. In his congratulatory
address, the apostolic nuncio said, "I heard that some were hoping
that a bishop would be chosen from within Fukuoka diocese. But, we
are catholic. Our Roman pontiff is German." He emphasized the
importance of making sure that a good bishop is chosen, and encouraged
the diocese to pray that the grace of the Holy Spirit would allow Bishop
Miyahara's work in Fukuoka to be fruitful.
"We must also remember the work of Bishop Matsunaga," said
Tokyo's Archbishop Takeo Okada, president of the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan. In his address, he also thanked Fr. Soichi Kawakami,
who served as administrator of Fukuoka diocese for almost two years.
Archbishop Okada went on to express his hope that the new bishop would
inspire new growth among the priests of Fukuoka.
Fr. Takashi Hirata, who represented the priests receiving the new bishop,
said, "Well, how must it feel to take the bishop's seat in Fukuoka
diocese? I hope it is easy enough for him to sit, with our respect
and obedience to act as 'cushions.' I want to encourage him to rest
here the heavy weight he carries, and then, with Jesus as our focal
point, our hearts will be one, our energies united, and our obstacles
overcome." There were also greetings given by representatives
for the sisters and the lay parishioners of Fukuoka.
Bishop Miyahara started his remarks by saying, "Honestly, I am
very grateful." He thanked the apostolic nuncio in Italian, and
introduced each of the attending bishops to the assembly.
He also thanked those at his former post, saying, "To all those
in Oita diocese, you took good care of me for eight years. Thank you
very much. I think I made trouble for you once or twice, but I am proud
of Oita diocese, and as you look forward to a new bishop, I know you
will make the very best of the opportunity to become a better diocese."
To the people of Fukuoka diocese, he said, "Though it is unfortunate,
I am no more than a used bishop. But I still plan on having strength
of body and soul, passion, and enthusiasm enough for the task. I guess
I will do my best to live and die here."
He went on to say, "My motto is 'May your kingdom come.' First
I want to became a bishop in prayer, then a bishop who receives the
support of the priests, and then I want to pray in union with every
parishioner."
Bishop Miyahara planned to donate the day's offerings to Caritas Japan
for those in disaster-stricken areas. After the Mass, the attendees
shared sandwiches and drinks to celebrate the new bishop. Bishop Miyahara
greeted a long line of attendees, speaking one-on-one with his flock
for the first time as bishop of Fukuoka.
BISHOPS' CONFERENCE MAKES DIRECT APPEAL TO POPE
FOR CLOSURE OF TAKAMATSU SEMINARY
Catholic Weekly, May 18, 2008
On April 25, Japan's three archbishops, Takeo Okada of Tokyo, Jun Ikenaga
of Osaka, and Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, accompanied Takamatsu's
Bishop Osamu Mizobe to spend about an hour in discussion with Pope
Benedict XVI.
During their conversation with the pope, they first expressed gratitude
for his approval of the beatification of 188 Japanese martyrs scheduled
for November. However, the main purpose of the meeting was to request
on behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan (CBCJ) papal
approval for plans concerning the closure of the Takamatsu International
Mission Seminary, Redemptoris Mater, administered by the Neocatechumenical
Way (Way), an international movement dedicated to the religious formation
of adults.
"This is the ninth time that I have made a trip to the Vatican
concerning problems with the seminary," said Bishop Mizobe, who
became head of the Takamatsu diocese in July, 2004. "Although
I have had the support of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan
(CBCJ) all along, in the past, I ended up having to go alone. The best
part of this trip was being able to take action with the Conference
at my side."
Archbishop Okada, president of the CBCJ, said, "We've had this
problem for 20 years. In February 1992, we called an extraordinary
meeting of bishops specifically to talk about Redemptoris Mater, the
establishment of which had just been announced. Since then, we have
spent countless hours and gone through a lot of heartache at conferences
and in correspondence with the Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples, making mounds of documents. We've done all this, but still
can't seem to come to a mutual understanding, so we appealed to the
Holy Father, hoping he would understand."
Although the pope had received reports from the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples, the bishops felt that information directly
from Japan had not been adequately conveyed.
Archbishop Okada continued, "During the bishops' general meeting
in February, we decided to send a delegation, since our message hadn't
been getting across. First, we went to the Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples (on April 5) then went again to meet with the Holy Father.
That makes twice (in such a short time). By going to that extent, we
wanted to show how big an issue this is for the Church in Japan."
On April 29, the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) reported, "In
an extraordinary move, the Japanese Bishops' Conference sent a delegation
last week to discuss with Pope Benedict XVI 'the serious problem' they
are having with the Neocatechumenal Way and its seminary in Takamatsu
diocese."
In 1973, the Way was introduced at the Iwakuni Church of the Hiroshima
diocese, and its activities quickly expanded to other parishes as well.
The present situation regarding the seminary began in February, 1990,
when the Way-affiliated seminary was established by Bishop Satoshi
Fukahori, then-bishop of Takamatsu. However, at an extraordinary session
of the CBCJ in 1992, the conference issued an opinion stating that "the
seminary's purpose is not the training of new diocesan priests, but
rather the training of new priests for the Neocatechumenal Community."
The Way came into being in Spain in 1964, and, in an attempt to follow
in the footsteps of members of the early Church, seeks to make parishes
into mission-oriented churches.
However, according to records from the September, 1993, regular meeting
of the CBCJ, declared the Way a group "which is difficult to reconcile
and in danger of developing into division" because people affiliated
with it give top consideration to the objectives of their founders
and their own organization and because their unique celebration of
the liturgy varies from that of the Church as a whole.
The bishops also noted that outside Japan as well, there had been reports
of similar problems, and that therefore Tokyo and other dioceses imposed
restrictions on the activities of the Way. On the other hand, priests
from the Redemptoris Mater seminary have been accepted into other dioceses
such as Niigata.
Although the late Pope John Paul II praised the Way in a 1990 letter,
in 1997 he ordered the movement to draft a set of statutes, and in
2002 issued temporary approval of those regulations in a trial period
of five years.
According to this decision, the Way was not recognized as a society
or active group in itself, but was rather defined to be the offering
of "a particular style of Christian initiation and faith formation
conducted within parishes."
Commenting upon the April meeting with the pope, Bishop Mizobe said, "In
this meeting, the pope explained that he has not extended formal approval
of the regulations. The reason he gave was that, pertaining to their
liturgies and relationships with the bishops, certain problems have
been brought to light."
Within Takamatsu Diocese, there remain conflicting opinions concerning
the activities of the Way. Protests have arisen among laymen who feel
that Bishop Fukahori did not follow due legal process in his 1990 establishment
of the seminary. These matters reached the point that in June, 2003,
the Takamatsu district court ruled against Bishop Fukahori in a defamation
case, awarding damages to two lay plaintiffs who argued that certain
attacks in a letter by the bishop amounted to libel. Later that year,
an investigation of the diocese was conducted by the Holy See.
In the aftermath, following the resignation of Bishop Fukahori and
the July, 2004 installation of Bishop Mizobe, the new bishop strove
for reconciliation and "the harmony brought into being by the
Holy Spirit."
However, in an article in the Katorikku Shimbun national weekly dated
February 12, 2006, the bishop was quoted as saying, "Laity and
priests unaffiliated with the Way have declared, 'there will be no
harmony in Takamatsu as long as the seminary problem remains unresolved.'" The
situation had fallen into a stalemate.
At the Vatican meeting, Archbishop Ikenaga presented a memorandum to
the pope so that the state of affairs could be brought plainly and
clearly to his attention. The memo stressed four points.
The first was that all the active bishops of the CBCJ oppose the continued
operation of the seminary. Second, that in all the parishes into which
the Way has entered, divisions have arisen between the minority belonging
to the Way and the majority who do not. The third point was that aside
from those affiliated with the Way, all the priests in the diocese
oppose the Way. Finally, the memo expressed the bishops' hope
for a speedy resolution to the turmoil that has entered the Church
in Japan, and not only in Takamatsu Diocese, ever since the Way came
to the country.
Bishop Mizobe explained, "We talked together about how big a problem
this seminary presents, and how much the CBCJ has negotiated to try
to resolve it. We have more or less come to an agreement on our perspective
on the seminary for now, but other fundamental issues still remain
to be solved."
Commenting on the meeting with the pope, Archbishop Takami said, "This
was the first time we gave the pope himself all the relevant materials
up to this point."
According to the Nagasaki archbishop, the pope responded, "We
must make a decision about what to do about this seminary."
The archbishop continued, "I think that this time it was sufficiently
clear what we, for our part, would like to do-- our own inclinations."
Bishop Mizobe said that although the meeting dealt with a problem of
huge proportions, all in all it had a "peaceful, close atmosphere."
"The last thing the Pope said to me," he added, "was,
'Thank you for all your patience and hard work.'"
The UCAN report quoted Archbishop Okada as saying, "The diocesan
seminary is to be ended. The Holy See has agreed that it be closed
as a diocesan seminary this year."
A formal announcement will be made after further meetings in Takamatsu.
NAGOYA DIOCESE CONFRONTS OPPOSITION TO SUPPORT
CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED
Catholic Weekly, April 27, 2008
Months of organized opposition in Nagoya's Showa ward have
disrupted plans to build Aroijio House, a proposed support center
for the handicapped. As the Aroijio House is planned as an extension
of nearby AJU Independence House, a Catholic social welfare service
corporation, the Handicap Correspondence and Social Welfare Committees
of Nagoya diocese joined Bishop Junichi Nomura, chairman of the
board at AJU House, in a signature campaign to support resuming
construction plans.
The Aroijio House, sited less than 300 meters from Nagoya's Ehoucho
Church, was the first institution in the nation to make use of the
Handicap Independence Support Resolution, discouraging discrimination
against the physically and mentally handicapped. The resolution declares
that those who have handicaps are entitled to normal lives in the community,
and supports promoting general employment opportunities so that those
who live with handicaps can also have a chance to gain economic independence.
Although the city had been supporting the new center, posters made
by a group opposing the center discouraged funds, without which Aroijio
House would have been unable to meet its expected annual budget.
Akiyoshi Yamada, managing director of AJU House said, "At the
neighborhood meetings, there was an atmosphere of, 'We support the
welfare agenda, but the thought of inviting the mentally handicapped
is scary, unsafe, unsettling.' As someone who has faced discrimination
for having a physical handicap, I now feel it is my mission to work
for all those who have been ostracized in the workplace, in the community,
in the family."
AJU House has been managing work programs, welfare homes, day centers
and many lines of support for the handicapped that have brought Nagoya
the image of being a city leading Japan in the pursuit of better human
welfare.
Nagoya diocese is asking for help from the community at large. Those
in Nagoya are encouraged to join the signature campaign, and those
outside the area are encouraged to contact the welfare planning section
for the handicapped at the Nagoya City Health and Welfare Bureau. The
diocese suggests e-mailing, or faxing 052-951-3999 to ask for public
support for the Aroijio House.
For details, please call the Social Welfare Committee of Nagoya diocese
at 052-852-1426, or fax 052-852-1422.
KOBE CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF EMIGRATION TO BRAZIL
Catholic Weekly, May 4, 2008
 On April 28, 1908 some 800 Japanese set sail for Brazil from Kobe aboard
the ship Kasadomaru, the first Japanese emigrants to that country.
The Kansai Brazilian Community marked the 100th anniversary in Kobe
April 12-27.
Catholics from the local Osaka archdiocese as well as visitors from
Saitama and Yokohama took part in closing ceremonies of "Japanese-Brazilians
Now and for The Future" at Kobe's Meriken Park. With many
Brazilians living in the area, the diocese organized buses for several
hundred people.
Shigeru Ishida, 66, came from Shizuoka, in the Yokohama diocese. Standing
on the pier at Meriken Park brought to mind the year 1923. "This
is where my dad left," he said. Born in Baia, Brazil, the second-generation
Ishida returned to Japan before his 18th birthday.
Every two years, Ishida, whose son married a Japanese, returns to Brazil. "Brazil
is still great for me; it's where I was born and raised. Japan is my
second home."
The closing Mass was led by Bishop Daiji Tani, head of the Catholic
Commission of Japan for Migrants, Refugees and People on the Move.
Preaching in Portuguese, he talked about the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing the importance of
Japan becoming a more multiracial country where the rights of foreigners
can be better respected.
The bishop explained that within the next 20 years, the number of Catholics
in Japan will double. "We are becoming a multi-ethnic cooperative
body, speaking different languages. Our Holy Father has taken notice
and has encouraged immigrants in Japan."
He continued, "It's not only the numbers that are growing in the
Church in Japan. The Holy Family went as refugees into Egypt, and then
migrated to Nazareth. Jesus was brought up as a refugee and migrant.
You have the same experience as Jesus and can share his point of view,
and that is greater than numbers. With this experience and point of
view, you have the power to build a Church and society based on the
Gospel."
After Mass, Gerard Alfonso Muji, Brazil's consul general in residence
in Nagoya, and Toshizo Ido, governor of Hyogo prefecture, addressed
the assembly. There was also a joint Buddhist, Shinto and Christian
memorial service for the immigrants, along with Brazilian song and
dance.
Backed by the consul-general, the organizer of the memorial service
was Salesian Fr. Ebaristo Higa, who came with his father from Okinawa
to the Meriken pier before leaving for Brazil in 1932. When asked about
those who come back from Brazil to Japan, the priest said, "There's
not many, but there are some (new migrants) who keep coming. The number
of people who buy houses and bring their families to live in Japan
keeps growing. A newspaper said that 83 thousand people have taken
out permanent visas."
There are some Japanese-Brazilians who come to Japan as priests and
Religious. Miyazaki Caritas Sr. Theodora Tanaka has worked in Japan
since 2006.
"I want everyone to learn about the good things that Brazilians
and Japanese and all people have to offer," she said.
RESTORED BLACK MADONNA RETURNS TO TSURUOKA CHURCH
Catholic Weekly, April 20, 2008
Reaching the end of a year-long restoration process, the "Black
Madonna" statue, a designated cultural asset of Tsuruoka City
in Yamagata prefecture and unique within Japan, made its way home to
Tsuruoka Church on April 4.
This Black Madonna, with skin the color of wheat, was donated in 1903
by the Delivrande monastery in Normandy, France, the native land of
Paris Foreign Mission Society Fr. Frederic Dalibert (1860-1935), founding
pastor of Tsuruoka Church.
Toru Fujiwara, a professor at the Institute for Conservation of Cultural
Property (ICCP) at Tohoku University of Art & Design in Tsuruoka
City, was in charge of repairing the surface cracks, deterioration
and peeling which had come to ravage the statue over a century of high
humidity and harsh winter heating devices.
The repaired Madonna regained the vibrancy of her light blue raiment
and gilt veil, as well as the gold-leaf plant patterns on her robes.
Her metal crown, which had undergone still worse damage, was restored
to its original shape, and certain pieces which had been lost, like
a cross, were added.
On the day of the statue's return to Tsuruoka Church, parishoners present
for the reunification greeted it with cheers and applause, while one,
teary-eyed, said, "I feel as if my own mother has returned."
Noboru Sato, a parishioner of Tsuruoka Church who had overseen the
restoration, remarked, "The Black Madonna stands about 155cm tall.
She had been enshrined on the left altar in the sanctuary, so I had
always looked up at her from a distance; but seeing her up close at
the restoration center, I was amazed: 'Was the statue always this short?
Was her face always this graceful? Was the peeling this severe?'"
Until now, this statue of the Virgin was considered simply to be a
reproduction of the donor's Black Madonna at the Chapel of Notre Dame
de la Delivrande, but during this restoration process, it has taken
on the identity of an original work.
Tsuruoka Church, which is nearing the 105th anniversary of its dedication,
is a wooden basilica-style building with tiled roofing built in a three-tiered
Romanesque design and has been designated as a National Important Cultural
Asset, with thousands of tourists visiting each year. Many come to
pray before the Black Madonna.
A ceremony in celebrating the restoration was held April 27 at Tsuruoka
Church.
FRANCISCANS WELCOME SEAFARERS TO PORTS IN NIIGATA
Catholic Weekly, April 20, 2008
Franciscan Fr. Hubert Nelskamp, pastor of Naoetsu Church, and Bro.
Naoki Atarashi of Takada Church are charged with pastoral care for
seamen by the Niigata Diocese. Their ministry involves visiting ships
that have anchored at the ports of Naoetsu and Himekawa.
The majority of the ships come from Russia, Korea, China, the Philippines
and Myanmar. The priest and Brother are authorized by port authorities
to board ships and hand out city maps, telephone cards, town magazines,
etc. in the seafarers' languages. They also provide information about
church locations, hours of Masses and other religious services.
Bro. Atarashi visits Naoetsu port once a week. When a ship from Philippines
happens to be in port, a Filipino Franciscan Sister of Mary Immaculate
joins him.
Seamen are away from their families for months, doing dangerous work.
They often express bitterness about their hard job and conflicts of
human relations as well as sorrow at their sense of isolation or concerns
about their children.
"There is nothing special we can offer," said Bro. Atarashi. "What
we do is to lend an ear and accept them, which we believe can lighten,
though only for a moment, the burdens on their souls. As one of the
Japanese whose lives are dependent on imports, I hope I can extend
to them a message of appreciation and welcome. To show gratitude we
try to fill their needs for anything they need during their stay in
Japan."
SECRETARY OF VATICAN EMBASSY IN JAPAN APPOINTED
NUNCIO TO GHANA
Catholic Weekly, April 13, 2008
 Msgr. Leon Kalenga, who served as secretary of the Vatican nunciature
in Tokyo for almost five years, has been ordained an archbishop and
transferred to Ghana as apostolic nuncio.
Following the March 1 announcement of his appointment, archbishop-designate
Kalenga remained in Tokyo to assist activities celebrating the third
anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's accession to the papacy and then
went to Rome for his May 1 ordination to the episcopacy.
The archbishop served in nunciatures in seven countries before his
appointment as a nuncio.
"Japan is the first place where I have served for more than three
years," he said. "I want to say goodbye and to convey my
deep thanks to all the Japanese as well as to the bishops, priests,
sisters and brothers, missionaries, seminarians, people from all churches,
families, parishioners and people from various communities."
The archbishop spoke of his respect for Japanese culture saying that
the simplicity, reverence for others, the respect for nature and harmony
in life mark Japan's as a religious cutlure compatible with Catholicism.
"What I like about Japan is not limited to the culture," he
added. "I like shabushabu and sushi, Nagasaki champon and Takamatsu
udon, too. The good water in northern Japan produces good rice, which
makes good sake."
The archbishop spoke about the future of the Church in Japan. "It's
true that the Church is a very small denomination in Japan. It's small,
but Japanese Catholics have a deep faith. The mutual joy of the priest
who discovered the Nagasaki Christians and the Christians who realized
he was of the same faith has continued to this day. The Church that
has been blessed with the blood of martyrs continues, too. As you look
forward to celebrating the beatification ceremony in November, you
must also look again at the tasks the present Church is facing. You
must put your faith into action in a way that will make your faith
in Jesus dynamic, a light shining in the darkness, the salt of the
earth."
The archbishop explained that Ghana, the country to which he has been
assigned, has a population of 20 million, most of whom are Catholic.
He said that there are many vocations and the Church is very active.
He added, "My hope is to return to visit Japan during the first
vacation I get after assuming my post and tell you all about the Church
in Ghana."
SHARING HOSPITAL ROOM WITH NUN LEADS WOMAN TO
FAITH AND CONVENT
Catholic Weekly, April 20, 2008
 March 16 marked the second "Day of Life and Death" at Moka
Church in Tochigi prefecture. The celebration featured Mass, a concert,
and an exhibition of oshie (artwork created from bits of paper pasted
on a background). The afternoon part of the program included a discussion
that focused on life as a gift from God. The event took its inspiration
from the relationship of two nuns who first shared a room in a local
cancer ward.
Four years ago, Sr. Emiko Hiraoka, 56, not a Catholic at the time,
was admitted to the university hospital in Geno to be treated for cancer.
She was assigned the same room as Sr. Fumiko Koyama, who had a similar
condition, and who died in January 2005 at the age of 71. When they
learned that there was a nun in the cancer ward, hospitalized Moka
Church parishioners came to visit.
Sr. Hiraoka said, "I was with Sr. Koyama since I was first admitted
to the hospital. We both came to and left the hospital several times,
but we always ended up sharing the same room. At first I didn't realize
that she was a nun. It's not that we didn't talk about spiritual things;
I just thought of her like a mother."
A friend of Koyama said, "From the moment that Sr. Koyama looked
when she first saw Sr. Hiraoka, it was surprising how much we could
see she really cared for her. She asked the head nurse to make sure
that she would always share a room with Sr. Hiraoka."
When Sr. Hiraoka agreed to teach Sr. Koyama how to knit, the two grew
even closer. Other patients began gathering in the room, and it became
a knitting classroom. Once the patients got to know Sr. Koyama, their
hearts were stirred; she was their call to conversion.
After Sr. Hiraoka was released from the hospital, another cancer patient
from Moka Church saw a piece of her patchwork, was impressed, and suggested
that the church hold an exhibition. The result was the first Day of
Life and Death, in 2005.
Fr. Masahiro Tsuchiya of the Saitama diocese started off the Day of
Life and Death with Mass in a mix of English, Spanish, Portuguese,
and Japanese because more than half of the parishioners of Moka Church
are non-Japanese.
He said, "God has entrusted us with a big job in caring for the
sick, to assist in the work of Christ, who freely gave up his body
on the cross."
After putting a tune to a poem of the late Christian Genzo Mizuno,
Ryoji Yamaguchi wanted to perform the song on his guitar, and that
concert, together with the exhibition of Sr. Hiraoka's oshie,
was able to draw in people who might be visiting the church for
the first time.
Hiraoka's patchwork from the first Day of Life and Death now decorates
the radiation therapy room of the university hospital, bringing cheer
and courage to cancer patients, as well as pride to the parishioners
of Moka Church.
JAPANESE BISHOPS MEET POPE FOR SECOND TIME IN
FIVE MONTHS
UCA News, April 29, 2008
ROME (UCAN) -- In an extraordinary move, the Japanese Bishops' Conference
sent a delegation last week to discuss with Pope Benedict XVI "the
serious problem" they are having with the Neocatechumenal Way
and its seminary in Takamatsu diocese.
The four prelates went to the Vatican to seek the pope's understanding
and intervention to help resolve the situation.
It was the third time Japanese bishops visited and brought up the matter
in five months. "We hate to come so often but we had to given
the serious nature of the problem that needs to be resolved," Archbishop
Takeo Okada of Tokyo, president of the bishops' conference, told UCA
News in Rome.
During their ad limina visits in December, they raised their concerns
not only with the pope but also with officials at the Congregation
for the Evangelization of Peoples. Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias heads
the congregation.
A delegation of Japanese bishops returned in early April 2008 and discussed
the matter a second time with congregation officials, who they sensed
were somewhat supportive of the Neocatechumenal movement, Archbishop
Okada recalled.
They then decided to speak again with Pope Benedict. Archbishop Okada,
when he addressed the pope on behalf of the bishops on Dec. 15, had
said:
"Another matter would be The Neocatechumenal Way (the Way) and
the International Takamatsu Diocesan Seminary known as Redemptoris
Mater. We have here a serious problem. In the small Catholic Church
of Japan, the powerful sect-like activity of Way members is divisive
and confrontational. It has caused sharp painful division and strife
within the Church. We are struggling with all our strength to overcome
the problem but feel that if a solution is to be found, the consideration
of Your Holiness for the Church in Japan will be of the utmost importance
and direly needed."
The Neocatechumenal Way, founded in Spain in 1964, today claims around
20,000 communities with 1 million members in 105 countries.
The Takamatsu seminary is one of the movement's 73 missionary seminaries
worldwide, all called Redemptoris Mater and each under a diocesan bishop.
The six in Asia are in Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines
and Taiwan.
Bishop Osamu Mizobe of Takamatsu has confirmed he also spoke about
the problem in his diocese during his private ad limina audience with
Pope Benedict.
The pope, however, made no reference to the matter when he addressed
the Japanese bishops as a group on Dec. 15, at the end of their visit.
Four months later, on April 25, he talked about it in depth with Archbishop
Okada, Archbishop Jun Ikenaga of Osaka, Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami
of Nagasaki and Bishop Mizobe.
The small diocese of Takamatsu, based 520 kilometers southwest of Tokyo,
has about 5,000 Catholics.
Bishop Mizobe's predecessor agreed to host the seminary there. But
as serious problems emerged and tensions mounted, Bishop Mizobe, a
Salesian, decided to close it. The bishops' conference supported him,
its president confirmed.
Keen to maintain a base in Japan, the Neocatechumenal movement sought
to gain another bishop's backing. At first one agreed to host the seminary,
but after discussing the matter with brother bishops he decided against
this and informed the evangelization congregation and the movement
accordingly.
On April 25, Archbishop Ikenaga, vice president of the bishops' conference,
submitted a detailed brief on the situation to the pope.
According to Archbishop Okada, the bishops talked with Pope Benedict
for almost an hour. "He listened to us very attentively. He is
trying to understand us. He is very serious," the prelate told
UCA News.
"The diocesan seminary is to be ended. The Holy See has agreed
that it be closed as a diocesan seminary this year," he said.
The bishops, he explained, continue to have "serious and deep" problems
with the movement that relate to its "way of thinking" and
its "attitude" to Japanese culture, liturgy and other issues.
Asked whether the Vatican understands this, Archbishop Okada said he
feels "there is still a gap between us," but the situation "is
improving." He added that the way Pope Benedict listened greatly
encouraged him.
Archbishop Okada revealed they also discussed with the pope the scheduled
Nov. 24 beatification in Nagasaki of 188 Japanese Martyrs.
ZIMBABWEAN GRADUATE OF JAPANESE UNIVERSITY DEDICATES
HIMSELF TO WELFARE OF AFRICA
Catholic Weekly, April 6, 2008
Geoff Mauchaza, 24, a Zimbabwean student who came to Japan four years
ago after an encounter with the late Franciscan Fr. Akio Nemoto and
graduated from Chiba Institute of Science in March 2008, has returned
to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) to work.
The meeting of the two occurred in 2003, when a Japanese TV station
was making a documentary film featuring Fr. Nemoto's work at the St.
Francis Care Center, an AIDS hospice in RSA. Mauchaza happened to be
in the camera crew as a temporary assistant.
He voluntarily stayed with the Care Center even after the filming was
over. One day Fr. Nemoto asked him what he wanted to do with his future.
Mauchaza's reply, "I want to study, in any place possible," marked
the beginning of his road to Japan.
He spent his elementary to high school years at a Catholic boarding
school in Zimbabwe, and was baptized when 12 years old. After high
school, he moved to RSA, escaping from an economically unstable Zimbabwe.
In RSA he worked part-time for a TV commercial agent.
The young man harbored the dream of university life. Every time he
viewed scenes of foreign countries on TV he told himself that Americans
and peoples of many countries seemed to be enjoying happy lives, but
Africans faced many problems. He wished to become a journalist so that
he might tell the world the reality of Africa.
Fr. Nemoto and Takako Shibata, a parishioner of Seijo Church in Tokyo
who had helped Fr. Nemoto for 20 years, made Mauchaza's studies in
Japan possible, arranging room and board and processing his university
enrolment. Once he arrived in Japan, Shibata played a surrogate mother's
role for him throughout his days in Japan.
Shibata commented, "I remember Fr. Nemoto often said, 'No matter
how hard I try, I remain a foreigner after all. A day will come when
I leave Africa. Therefore, the foundation for Africa's future must
be built by the Africans themselves.'"
"What Fr. Nemoto wanted," she continued, "was that Geoff
become a man who would serve the needy and in that became a model to
other Africans, and inversely, that through him Japanese people might
come to know more about Africa."
To realize Fr. Nemoto's idea a project, "Father Nemoto's African
students supporters," was organized, headed by Tsutomu Okuni,
a parishioner of the Maebashi Church in Gumma prefecture.
Shibata spoke of the help the project gave Mauchaza.
"One elderly woman sent us money in the amount that she saved
by cutting back her personal daily expenses, and supporters from a
parish, having known of Jeoff shivering with the Japanese winter, gave
him a literally warm present, a kotatsu, an electric leg warmer. He
could not survive but for such supporters."
Mauchaza majored in risk and crisis management, focusing his attention
upon AIDS in Africa and the economic gap between rich and poor countries.
"When I was in Africa," he said, "since poverty scuttled
everything, it seemed to me useless to try anything. But now being
in Japan, thanks to helps from many people, I could graduate from the
university. I have learned that if one tries harder one can achieve
something. What I can do may be limited, but I will try to help suffering
people, ever aiming at a better world."
Fr. Nemoto died at age 76 in February. He lost his speech in his last
days, but Mauchaza felt that even from the hospital bed, the priest
kept giving silent encouragement: "Never give up!"
"The exhortation of Fr. Nemoto," he confessed, "in which
he told me, 'Because many will see Africa through you, which way you
choose and how you walk it will be a testimony of your faith' weighs
heavy on my shoulders."
CHOIR DIRECTOR AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHES GENUINENESS
Catholic Weekly, April 13, 2008
The 8th annual Little Stars Concert took place at the Marianists' Gyosei
Elementary School in Tokyo March 24 with the goal of raising funds
to promote children's education in Asia and South America. For 40 years
since its founding, the Gyosei choir has raised funds for environmental
causes in foreign countries and made efforts to express God's love
and peace to children across the globe.
The school rules place an emphasis on special activities, elevating
things like choir practice over outside club activities because of
the choir's great religious importance at, for example, school Masses.
Eighty-seven third- through sixth-graders, 10 percent of whom are Catholic,
participate in hour-long choir practices three times a week. In preparation
for the charity concert, choir leader Yuichi Hasunuma and the choir
members gave up their spring vacation to practice.
Hasunuma, who has taught for 30 years, said, "If there's one thing
I want to teach the students, it's not singing techniques or knowledge,
but a spirit of genuine humanity and prayer. I am not a Christian,
but among Christ's teachings, I can't find one that's incorrect. I
find myself able to convey the teachings of Christ and his way of life
to students with confidence. Over and over we practice hymns that encapsulate
the teachings of Christ, find that spirit, and the students grow, spreading
that message to the audience through song."
The choir director's teaching strategy is based on the idea that in
order to become genuinely human, students must be shown examples of
genuineness such as Mother Teresa. He tells students, "Like Mother
Theresa, do not pay attention to distractions around you. Never give
up; keep doing what you know is right. Someday, the time will come
when you understand her words. Until then, prepare the soil of your
hearts."
Hasunuma is strict about discipline and dedication. Practice begins
and ends with prayer, and when he sees sloppiness in the way Catholic
students recite a prayer, he pounces. "Catholics can't be that
sloppy! Remember why you became a Catholic! One more time, and pray
with all your heart!"
Students caught dozing off, chatting, or coming late are each assured
a stern warning from the director.
"I try to teach them, 'This is the kind of person you must become.'
I have to take time to be careful and listen to the students, but when
a student's attitude doesn't change, and he gets up the nerve to say
'Anyway, the director isn't serious,' I send him out of the room
to show that I am serious. I am serious about teaching them genuineness.
So, when I'm teaching, I always ask myself, 'What would Jesus do?'"
This year's Little Stars Concert was held in partnership with Koka
Academy and Seibi Academy students. Nobuo Yamaguchi, 22, a graduate
student in vocal music, participated in the choir OB (former members)
portion of the program, where singers ranged in age from 13 to 22 years
old.
He said, "While attending Mass so often, the choir comes to instinctively
understand the importance of praying to God, regardless of what members
believe individually. I think choir puts a shine on our humanity. What
I learned in choir is really helpful, even now."
JAPANESE-BRAZILIANS MAKE PILGRIMAGE TO LAND OF THEIR
ANCESTORS
Catholic Weekly, April 6, 2008
On March 29, in connection with this year's centenary of Japanese emigration
to Brazil, a group of more than 20 first- and second-generation Japanese
Brazilians arrived in Japan on 10-day pilgrimage to sites associated
with the late Fr. Chohachi Nakamura, who had been a missionary to Brazil,
and of the Japanese martyrs.
According to Marianist Fr. Isao Aoki, the group's leader, the pilgrims
would walk the path of the 26 Japanese saints and visit the home of
Fr. Nakamura in the Goto Islands off Nagasaki.
Explaining the reason for the pilgrimage, the priest said, "Both
in Japan and throughout the world, this is the age of 'things.' Given
the culture at large, we're aiming at getting just a little closer
to the lifestyle of people who really lived out their faith. Centering
ourselves on the Mass and listening to talks by experts, returning
to the ethos of our Japanese Catholicism, we're trying to consider
ways we can contribute to Brazilian society in such an age."
He explained that, although the world holds the blessings of a single
faith in common, there is something special about the faith in Japan
that cannot be tasted in Europe.
"The roots of those of Japanese descent are in Japan. We will
walk the roads of Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tsuwano and Nagasaki
in pilgrimage. There's something that comes to life when you really
get to know a place, and not just by reading about it. We will experience
authentically Japanese faith and, back in Brazil, use this as an opportunity
to demonstrate, as new Brazilians, a new facet of the value of Christianity."
Fr. Vendelino Lorscheiter, a Brazilian Jesuit who lives in Japan and
works with a group assisting Japanese Catholic missionaries to other
countries, welcomed the party at Kojimachi Church in Tokyo on the day
of their arrival and celebrated Mass with them in a chapel dedicated
to St. Francis Xavier.
Fr. Lorscheiter said, "I became a diocesan priest and wanted to
go to Africa, but thanks to Xavier I came to Japan. So, calling Xavier
and Fr. Nakamura to mind, I pray that you will be able to fulfill our
Lord's command to 'preach the good news to all people' and have good
encounters with the people you meet on this pilgrimage."
Yutaka Sano, who emigrated from Chiba to San Paolo after the war as
a technical worker, joined the pilgrimage following his retirement
from a 40-odd-year career as a machinist.
"It's a pleasure to follow in the footsteps of these 26 martyrs
and to visit the home of Fr. Nakamura," he said.
NEW STYLE OF BEING PARISH AS COMMUNITY CELEBRATES CENTENARY
Catholic Weekly, March 30, 2008
The number of parishes and districts in Sendai that are implementing "collaborative
evangelization" is increasing. However, after having made the
changeover, there are some, who, in the midst of trying to get used
to it, have become perplexed, and there are others who, after trying
out various ways of implementing it, feel that it has strengthened
the exchange among the members of the community.
In 1991, a number of priests began working together to change the way
evangelization is structured in three of the churches in the city of
Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. The parish of Nishi Sendai joined the
group in 1998.
This parish started with the name Tsunogorocho in 1908. A Mass on March
15 celebrated by Bishop Tetsuo Hiraga and the five priests that are
in charge of the Sendai Central District marked the parish's centenary.
Parishioners from the other parishes in the district joined them in
the celebration.
Takashi Ueno, president of the parish council, used the opportunity
of the anniversary to reflect on the trials and errors the parish has
made in becoming a collaborative parish and expressed his wish that
this anniversary will mark the end of the phase of considering how
the parish should carry out collaborative evangelization.
Nishi Sendai Parish decided to take part in the cooperative parish
structure in 1994. This meant that once a month they would have a liturgy
without a priest.
In these liturgies the parish members took turns giving a reflection
in place of a priest's homily. However, there were some who spoke of
their bewilderment at this change. It was then decided that, instead
of a single person giving a talk, participants would break into groups
of five and have a "Sharing of the Word of God" in each group.
This turned out to be a success.
During the first two years it was hard for people to get used to this,
but they were happy "to be able to get to know and understand
one another through sharing." Now there are many times when the
groups exceed the 15 minutes allotted for sharing.
On the other hand, people express their concern that the interpretations
they express in the sharing might be heretical. According to Ueno,
there were also those who had their doubts about collaborative evangelization
itself. Some were not able to get used to receiving the Eucharist from
extraordinary lay ministers of the Eucharist. Some say there were people
who left the Church for this reason.
Akiko Takayama, a member of the parish, spoke of the importance of
parishioners discussing the meaning of this new system through studying
and arguing about it.
"Sharing with one another is one way of strengthening one's faith," she
said. "Looking into your heart to face the things you are feeling
and then sharing those feelings with one another is very helpful in
developing your Christian faith life."
Ueno, the parish council head, said he hopes the Church will be able
to accept a variety of ways of thinking.
The Sendai Central District was started in 1991 with the Motoderakouji,
Tatamiyachou and Ipponsugi parishes. Later Higashi Sendai, Nishi Sendai
and Yagiyama parishes joined the district. At present the structure
includes six parishes within Sendai City.
The priests who serve the communities live at Motoderakoji Church.
They jointly take care of all the parishes, which are all within 20
minutes by car. They move from church to church for Mass. For funerals,
the priests coordinate their schedules and whoever is free to do it
will take care of the funeral.
According to the priest in charge of the district, Fr. Charles Aime
Bolduc, a Quebec Foreign Missioner, they exchange information related
to evangelization, and, in addition to that, once a week they have
a Bible sharing and discuss various themes.
"The priests are not almighty. We work as a team to achieve a
common objective," he said.
The Catholic Church Liason Conference for Miyagi Prefecture has become
a support for their collaborative evangelization.
According to Masatoshi Itoh, the liaison conference chairperson, the
Conference, which has as its objective the promotion of exchange among
the Catholics, plans prefecture-wide gatherings and training sessions
to enable the revitalization of the church in Sendai.
"Our task now is to integrate all of the 17 parishes in the prefecture
so as to be united as one, and to decide how we will evangelize," he
said.
Commenting on collaborative evangelization, Fr. Bolduc said, "The
Church is universal, but it is important to have a concrete parish
to belong to. Collaborative evangelization is a concrete experience
of belonging to both kinds of Church. It's important to discover how
the Church can open itself up to society. Collaboration takes place
not because the number of priests are few, but collaboration is for
the sake of evangelization."
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