Yokoso Japan

This morning I had the privilege to introduce myself to one of the daily church-goers here at St. Joseph Church in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. That’s right I am writing this note from Japan! It’s been three days since I got to Tsurumi, the headquarters of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in Japan. It’s been three days as well that I’ve been seeing Hotaka san faithfully attending morning mass at our “big chapel” here in Tsurumi (yes, we also have a “little chapel” for use solely by the friars for midday and evening and night prayers). Actually, she’s one of only a handful of daily morning mass church-goers here which reminded me yesterday that, indeed, where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name, He is there in their midst. Well, I must confess that I actually started to count the number of daily church-goers. To begin with, there are four friars - Fr. Fidelis Fujihara, SA, Pastor of the parish, Fr. Pacificus von Essen, SA, a retired member of the Community but nonetheless is still actively helping out in saying mass at the weekday masses at the parish, Bro. Ignatius Kobayashi, SA, a member of the local community, and me, a visiting friar – and about 5-6 lay people. It makes me think now of how at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Richmond, BC (where I was assigned as a Deacon and up until last Sunday, April 19, was there helping out after my presbyteral ordination) the mass is well-attended and Sunday attendees are “wall-to-wall” in the words of the Associate Pastor! So from last Tuesday to today’s morning mass, attendees ranged from six to ten people, and this includes at least three or four friars. You get the picture.As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I was asked to come and “investigate” the possibility of being stationed here in the very near future because, as I was told, the Region needs some help. After yesterday’s conversation with two friars, I had a bigger and wider sense and understanding of a need, indeed, for a fresh “body” for the Friars’ mission and presence here to continue. With God’s grace and mercy, slowly I am beginning to understand the invitation to serve God’s people here. Barring no complications, I might see myself serving here for a few good number of years. Yokoso Japan!

God speaks Japanese, too

At midday prayer today at the “Little Chapel”, I found myself seated between two Japanese speaking Friars. It was very “interesting” to hear them pray in Japanese. I have always wanted to speak the language but did not have the chance. I had some Japanese classes back in college but it was insufficient to really get to speak comfortably in Japanese. So seated between two friars praying the Office in Japanese felt wonderful. I marveled at the way they pronounced the beautiful Japanese words. Of course, I had the benefit of understanding what they were praying because I had the translation in English. So when they started to say “Chichi to Ko to Seirei no mina ni yotte. Amen”, I know that they started it with the sign of the Cross – “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”. Isn’t it really fascinating how in our Catholic Church we are able to “participate” at set Prayer times with people of other cultures because we say and would have said the same prayers in our own language or in a language understandable to us at set times? Is not that wonderful? If God speaks Filipino and English, God speaks Japanese as well!

blog and blogging

Just created this blog. I do not know what to write about. Recently I was invited by my Religious Community's "Internet Communications Coordinator" to consider the possibility of "chronicling" the first 100 days since my presbyteral ordination. Oh, yes, I am a Roman Catholic priest - and newly ordained at that. I was ordained by His Excellency Donald James Reece, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica last March 14, 2009. So it has been a month and four days since that blessed occasion. I cannot possibly write about all the events that have taken place since then but this much I can say: they have all been life-giving and grace-filled. And it's getting more exciting. I was asked by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (my religious community) to consider the possibility of serving and ministering in Yokohama, Japan. So, on Monday, April 20, I leave for Tokyo - a little anxious about the upcoming experience but graced as well knowing that there I shall meet the Risen Jesus in the faces of the people I shall be privileged to serve and work with.

Well, this is getting longer. I shall end it here. I hope this is/was a good start.