Japan Catholic News
March 2008
NAGASAKI YOUNG ADULTS START NATIONAL CANDLE RELAY TO HONOR 188 MARTYRS
Catholic Weekly, March 2, 2008
In preparation for the November beatification ceremony of 188 martyrs, young adults all over Japan have united to start a candle relay, sending a candle from church to church to be lit at Masses for young people. Nagasaki diocese Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami held an opening Mass for the relay Feb. 24 in the chapel of his residence in Nagasaki, with around 50 young adult Catholics attending.
The event is formally titled "Candle Relay Mass: Lamps of Testimony." The bishops' conference wanted young adults to be involved in activities celebrating the beatification, so they called on the national Catholic Young Adult Group. The groups' leaders consulted with members in Nagasaki diocese, who then formed a beatification ceremony preparatory committee, with representative Kayo Miura, 31, a member of the Urakami Church in Nagasaki. Together with the children's group of the diocese, the preparatory committee reached out to the Catholic Young Adult Relations Conference and dioceses throughout the nation for cooperation with the relay.
Now that the relay has officially started, it is expected to reach Kagoshima diocese by the end of March, Hiroshima diocese on April 6 and 7, Sendai diocese on May 16 and 17, Tokyo diocese on June 15, Takamatsu diocese in the middle of June, Yokohama diocese on June 28 and 29 and Oita diocese on Sept. 28. Details are still being worked out among the dioceses, with the organizers calling on every diocese in Japan to participate.
With the song "They are people who testify, testify to love" providing the theme, they decided to include the phrase "Lamps of Testimony" in the relay's title and promote the song, according to Redemptorist Fr. Nozomu Ishida of Nagasaki's Atago Church, who is working with the preparatory committee.
"We decided the readings and other details of the relay Masses. We want the participants to sing that song during the candle lighting, to spread what we've learned from the martyrs. The preparatory committee is sending a binder along with the candle package, and we hope to fill it with names and notes from young adults at all the Masses."
Representing the committee, Miura said, "Our main goal is to have young adults from Nagasaki and all over the country come together. We hope that bringing the beatification ceremony to everyone will bind us together, make us even stronger."
More information as the relay continues is available at the mobile phone site http://mb.minx.jp/wakamono.
LEAD-IN PLANS FOR BEATIFICATION CEREMONY OF 188 MARTYRS ANNOUNCED
Catholic Weekly, March 2, 2008
 Nagasaki Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami, chairman of the bishops' Special Committee for the Causes of Japanese Martyrs, has announced special preparations leading up to the Nov. 24 beatification ceremony for 188 Japanese martyrs.
The announcement introduced a seven-week period of prayer for a spiritual preparation and presented the official mottos and the logo of the event.
The seven weeks before the ceremony, Oct. 5 - Nov. 23, have been designated special weeks to pray for spiritual elevation and a deeper understanding of the beatification.
The first day, Oct. 5, is to open with a commemoration Mass at every church. And, once a week on any day suitable to each parish, order, family or individual an event to pray and raise awareness of the new blesseds is to be set up, using rites presented in a guide prepared by the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints (CCS) in Rome.
The archbishop also stated that a public contest to find the official mottos and the logo of the beatification events had been concluded and that on Feb. 7 the Standing Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan (CBCJ) processed the selection, and with some modifications, those selected were approved by CBCJ at its Feb. 18-22 plenary meeting.
The logo was designed by Kaori Baba, a student of design arts at Nagasaki Nihon University Senior High School. The letter "J" for Japan and an image of a ship frame the logo. The white circle in the upper part signifies the Eucharistic host. The red shapes in the center illustrate the 188 martyrs' hands holding up the Host, and at the bottom is a Latin caption, "Petrus KIBE et 187 martyres" in the shape of ocean waves.
Reproduction of the logo is subject to prior approval by the Public Relations Office of CBCJ, telephone 03-5632-4431.
Three mottos were accepted for the event:
"Forfeit life to live life," proposed by an anonymous contestant from Okayama Church;
"The Blesseds' prayers echo through time," proposed by Takashi Nakamura of Tokyo;
"Testimony - 188 Martyrs," proposed by the pilgrims' guide staff at the Nagasaki Catholic Center.
BISHOPS FINALIZE PLAN FOR FUKUOKA, TOKYO SEMINARY MERGER TO CREATE NATIONAL SEMINARY
Catholic Weekly, March 2, 2008
Since 2003 the Japanese bishops have discussed a proposal to merge the St. Sulpice Major Seminary in Fukuoka and the Tokyo Catholic Seminary, the two main seminaries that train diocesan priests for Japan. At their meeting in June of last year, the bishops adopted a basic policy document on combining the seminaries, and during their Feb. 18-22 extraordinary plenary meeting this year, they agreed to set up a new seminary, the Japan Catholic Seminary, accepting two papers on the principles and the policy of formation. They have forwarded both documents to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, requesting permission to set up the new seminary.
Six bishops were chosen to form an Episcopal Preparatory Committee for the new seminary, with plans to open it in April 2009. Among the resolutions adopted by the bishops' conference is one stating that the new seminary "is approved by all the members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan," and is a seminary for "all areas under the jurisdiction of the bishops' conference."
The present St. Sulpice Seminary in Fukuoka city will become the Fukuoka Campus, and the Tokyo Catholic Seminary in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, will become the Tokyo Campus of the new seminary. The three main years of theological studies will be located on the Fukuoka Campus, and the Tokyo Campus will be used for the two-year philosophy program preceeding theological studies and the diaconate course preceeding ordination to the priesthood.
A financial plan for the new seminary was also approved by the bishops.
Bishop Yoshinao Otsuka of Kyoto, who was involved in the preparatory work setting up the new seminary, said that "since before 2003 the bishops have been considering the situation of the two seminaries. It has become increasingly difficult to acquire staff, and with the decrease in the number of seminarians the quality of teaching has declined. But more than this, the big problem is the need for more interaction between the students of both seminaries, as this is limited at present."
Since there are more and more opportunities for priests from both seminaries to work together in the Church in Japan, the importance of priests getting to know one another has become an issue. After the seminaries combine, Sulpician and diocesan priests will continue to cooperate in the formation of the students.
Bp. Otsuka said, "We will respect the Sulpician formation policies."
It is also hoped that through their common formation the outlook of seminarians will extend beyond their own diocese.
"Getting to know one another during seminary days has a decisive effect on priests' relations with their confreres. And from the academic viewpoint, since the number of teachers is limited, they should be able to put together a satisfactory curriculum," said the bishop.
Combining the two seminaries will not necessarily decrease costs, and the financial burden shouldered by the 11 dioceses in the Tokyo and Osaka provinces is expected to continue to increase. However, ever since discussions about combining the seminaries were initiated it was accepted that there would be two campuses.
Bp. Otsuka said, "The seminary has a role among the regional Churches. One is to encourage vocations to the priesthood, and another is as a place offering theological education. Physically we could not make one seminary, so we will continue to have two campuses."
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE JAPANESE DIOCESAN SEMINARIES
1929 - Tokyo Catholic Major Seminary opens officially as the seminary of the archdiocese of Tokyo
1932 - A plan to have the Tokyo Catholic Major Seminary made the seminary for all of Japan is discussed at the Japanese bishops' conference and there is a simultaneous proposal to set up a seminary in Fukuoka for the Kyushu area.
1946 - The bishops' conference decides to set up major seminaries in Tokyo and Kyushu, with the seminary in Tokyo entrusted to the Jesuits and the seminary in Kyushu entrusted to the Sulpicians.
1947 - Opening ceremony for the Tokyo Catholic Major Seminary as a regional seminary
1948 - Fukuoka St. Sulpice Major Seminary opens in Fukuoka
1970 - Management of Tokyo Catholic Major Seminary transferred from Jesuits to bishops’ conference
1990 - Academic studies at Tokyo Catholic Major Seminary separated from Sophia University Theology Department
LAYMAN REFLECTS ON YEARS AS A SEMINARY TEACHER
Catholic Weekly, February 24, 2008
There are many ways in which the laity are working within the Church: members of parish councils, liturgical ministers, conducting marriage courses, teaching catechumens etc. In addition to those who work as volunteers, there are laity who are hired to work for the Church. The Catholic Weekly has been running a series on laity who work for the Church. The third article in the series introduced Kiyoshi Fukahori, 65, a teacher at the St. Sulpice Major Seminary.
"I am very happy to have been entrusted with such an important work of the Church, educating priests," said Fukahori, who has been teaching at the seminary since 1970.
Last year he reached retirement age, but he continues to teach classes. Over 30-some years he taught Beginning Latin and later was put in charge of liturgical music, both the theory and the practice. In addition he served as the rector's secretary, working under five rectors including the present one, Fr. Tsuyomi Makiyama. Fukahori also translated the writings of foreign priests.
As a young man, Fukahori went to Rome as a seminarian to study, but eventually decided not to become a priest. When he made that decision he also decided to continue his study of theology and completed his course of studies.
After returning to Japan, he got a job at a gear factory in Wakamatsu in Kyushu. He was a liberal arts student, but in the factory he was assigned the job of drawing designs.
"I made the drawings by watching and imitating. When I made a mistake in adding figures, the factory would always point out the mistake. I also translated materials imported from other countries. I really enjoyed it. The people there were great."
Then he was recommended for a job at the seminary by the rector, Sulpician Fr. Yoshiyuki Takaki.
"It seems that the faculty had already decided to hire me," Fukahori said. "I suppose they realized that I was very familiar with the seminary and thus decided I would be good for the job."
At the time there had not been much thought about salary, insurance and other details, a situation that has since then been remedied.
Commenting upon those early days, Fukahori said, "I think this probably caused a lot of hardship for my wife, but somehow she managed to raise our three children. I am thankful that somehow she was able to manage and it looks as if she will continue to be able to do so."
When Fukahori began working at the seminary there already were several lay teachers teaching there.
"As for me, I didn't have a feeling of being special. There were many others teaching subjects like history, philosophy, Japanese literature and so on."
Asked about life at the seminary, he joked, "It was lots of fun for me, but I don't know if the seminarians felt the same."
Reflecting back on his career, Fukahori said he wonders if it might have been better not to have done both teaching and secretarial work.
"It was a great source of encouragement for me to be able to be engaged on a daily basis with those young men, who were seeking to become priests. We encouraged one another as we experienced both happy times and times of feeling down."
During his time at the seminary the school prepared about 120 to 130 for ordination as priests.
"I felt that I had been entrusted to take care of these men from the diocese and now I was able to return them as priests. Bishop Ryoji Miyaharu of Oita Diocese was one of my students. For a time we taught together at the seminary. It is things like this that have given me so much happiness."
He said that his most happy moment is at the graduation Mass.
"At that time the one word they always said to me was 'Thank you.' That's what it's all about. I am always so moved at that moment. Year after year it has been wonderful to experience that moment."
The teacher is grateful to the recent seminarians.
"They are very good people. I mean the following in a positive way, but I also wish that they would seek to broaden their abilities and horizons a little more. For example, trying to read books they don't understand, or deciding to take up the challenge of learning another foreign language, or having a vision of what they want to do as a priest. I would like them to always be trying to take another step forward. But then, it is the job of the teacher to inspire them!"
He spoke of his concern that the number of seminarians has decreased so drastically.
"It always exciting for me to see the number of those who enter after having worked in society increasing."
MEMORIAL SERVICE MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'THE MARY OF ANTS' TOWN'
Catholic Weekly, February 10, 2008
 A Feb. 3 Mass celebrated by Tokyo Archbishop Takeo Okada at the Shiomi Church commemorated the 50th anniversary of the death of Satoko Kitahara, known popularly as "The Mary of Ants' Town." Some 200 people braved snow to attend the service at the parish, which has connections with Kitahara and her work.
Kitahara spent the last years of her life with garbage collectors in postwar Japan, devoting herself to the care of children and other such causes until her death in 1958 at age 28.
Before the Mass, Shizuko Togawa, who lived with Kitahara for six years in Ants' Town, which then occupied a corner of Tokyo's Sumida Park, spoke.
Togawa was a college student when she became involved with Ants' Town in 1953. At that time, the "Ants' Association" was a cooperative organization supporting the livelihoods of ragpickers who scoured waste to find resalable items.
Togawa explained that Kitahara -- her smile inextinguishable despite her ailments -- served as the psychological backbone of the community. According to Togawa it would not be too much to compare her to "Mother Theresa, Amaterasu Omikami, Jibo Kannon and the Virgin Mary."
Kitahara's elder sister, Kazuko Takagi, was also present for the memorial service.
During his homily at the Mass, Archbishop Okada remarked that the papal nuncio to Japan, upon the commencement of his service here, had asked, "Where is Ms. Kitahara's grave?"
Reflecting upon the scripture reading of the Mass as well as Kitahara's activities, the archbishop exclaimed, "If we could offer a witness this wonderful, surely the Church in Japan would grow!"
Previous pastors of Shiomi Church were specially invited to attend the Mass. At the adjoining Japan Catholic Center, a photo gallery of Kitahara and Ants' Town offered glimpses of that era.
After meeting Conventual Franciscan Brother Zeno Zebrowski, Kitahara began her involvement in Ants' Town in 1950. She took up residence there in Sept. 1952, and remained until her death.
In 1960, Ants' Town was moved to Shiomi, in Koto Ward. A cross and organ remain in Shiomi Church as memorials of that
time.
PARISH CONCERT RAISES MONEY AND AWARENESS FOR FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 24, 2008
Takada Church in Joetsu,
Niigata prefecture,
held a charity concert
at the Joetsu Catholic
Angels' Kindergarten
gymnasium on Feb. 16
to raise money for
an addition to the
parish's family support
center, Mikokoro House.
Both the church's chorus
group and a trio of
Filipino singers lead
by Roberto Cosma performed.
The gym was crowded
with over 200 parishioners
and their neighbors.
Shoichi Ito, who was
in charge of preparations,
said, "Roberto
and everyone were amazing."
After a concert last
December went over
well, the staff decided
to try to repeat the
success. Those in charge
at the church and the
kindergarten came together
with performers, neighbors,
and friends to promote
the concert, selling
tickets for 1000
yen apiece.
Local media also contributed,
with support coming
from the Niigata Nippo
newspaper, Joetsu Cable
TV, FM Joetsu, the
Joetsu Times and the
Joetsu Yomiuri.
Franciscan Deacon Naoki
Atarashi said, "This
was a church-sponsored
event, so we were able
to include the whole
town. The chorus group
performed, and the
church's language,
calligraphy, and senior
care groups participated
all together, but it
wasn't limited to parishioners."
According to the pastor,
Franciscan Fr. Mario
Canducci, Mikokoro
House, founded in 1949
as a support center
for pregnant mothers,
is the only one of
six homes for mothers
and children in Niigata
prefecture not paid
for with government
funds. As chaplain,
Fr. Canducci is the
home's director and
spiritual advisor,
especially for the
children. "The
residents are mostly
non-Christians, but
some are baptized," he
said.
Each of the 20 apartments
in Mikokoro House has
one 6-mat-sized room,
a 4.5-mat-sized kitchen,
a toilet and a bathroom.
Most of the tenants
are victims of domestic
violence, some even
coming from outside
Niigata prefecture.
The number of large
families, some with
five, six, or seven
children, encouraged
the staff to make an
addition to Mikokoro
House, including a
reading area, and a
meeting room for mothers.
The community is constantly
seeking donations,
with a some coming
from a foreign community
that includes a number
of Italians. While
the Catholic Women's
League also offers
a regular yearly contribution,
money also comes from
non-Catholics.
"With what little we
have to give, we are
doing our best," Fr.
Canducci said.
For information, contact
Mikokoro House at 025-524-1003.
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