Japan Catholic News
April 2008
NEW CARITAS JAPAN HEAD VISITS BANGLADESH
Catholic Weekly, March 9, 2008
 Bishop Kazuo Koda, auxiliary of Tokyo, was appointed head of Caritas
Japan at last June's plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of Japan. Feb. 8-16, he made his first overseas trip in that capacity,
visiting programs in Bangladesh supported by Caritas Japan.
The bishop traveled with Caritas Japan secretary, Fr. Daisuke Narui,
SVD, two members of the secretariat and other participants from four
dioceses. They took a first-hand look at how charitable donations raised
throughout Japan are being put to use, focusing mainly on the Chittagong
Hill Tracts, where Caritas Japan offers educational assistance to minorities
being displaced from their land.
According to secretariat employee Sawako Inae, this is the first time
for members of the secretariat to accompany the diocesan delegates.
"The reason Bangladesh is so important," she explained, "is
that, whereas relief efforts in the past have always been extended
in yearly increments, we've just begun our first three-year program
this past January. We’re moving forward with a comprehensive
plan covering three regions, including Chittagong, based on the solid
operational prowess (of Caritas Bangladesh) in that region. So the
timing of this survey is significant."
Bp. Koda said that his first foreign site visit was a good experience.
"How can we help these minorities, who are having their land snatched
away, who are being forced into the back regions?" he asked. "There's
not much we can do besides education, so Caritas Japan is building
schools in every little village and assisting with teachers' compensation."
Educators' compensation may be paid by Caritas Japan, but their food
and lodging is being provided by the villages. "It's harsh, but
the children love the schools, and it's striking to see the fierce
efforts of the teachers," the bishop added.
Reflecting upon one cyclone-damaged area they had visited, Bp. Koda
said, "At the local level, Caritas Bangladesh is doing its best
to help the poor to become self-sufficient. I felt that the cooperation
between them and the dioceses and parishes is going well. Like Japan,
the Church there is very small, representing only a few tenths of a
percent of the population, but it’s very clear what they should
do – and what they can do – in this society. I think there’s
a lot we can learn from them."
There seemed to be an unexpected benefit from a large group's visiting
a relief beneficiary.
"These minorities live in a very unstable situation," said
Inae. "Visiting with a group of eight people was a way of saying,
'We in Japan are looking out for you,' effectively making them aware
of the attention of international society. It must be reassuring for
minority communities."
SHROUD OF TURIN EXHIBITION HELD AT TOKYO CHURCH
Catholic Weekly, March 23, 2008
 A photo-exhibition of the Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the
linen cloth that wrapped the body of Jesus following his crucifixion,
was held March 2-16 at the Kojimachi Church in Tokyo.
The exhibition showed more than 40 items, including the most recent
life-size photo of the shroud. The linen, woven in herringbone twill,
and measuring 4.415 x 1.137 meter, looks similar to a sepia-colored
photographic negative and shows front and back views of a man 180 cm
tall.
The image shows some 120 leather-whip wounds over the body, thorn punctures
around the forehead and scalp, and bloodstains on a wrist, the abdomen
and both feet.
The shroud, now in the possession of the Vatican, is usually kept in
the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin,
Italy.
Salesian Fr. Gaetano Compri, who has researched the Holy Shroud for
58 years, explained the exhibition, saying, "As Lent is a time
for meditating on the passion and death of Jesus Christ, I hoped that
the Shroud would help strengthen our faith in Him."
Fr. Compri delivered a talk and slide presentation almost every day
at the exhibition hall. Comparing the Scriptural texts of the Gospels
and the man of the Shroud, he invited visitors to a meditation on Jesus'
passion and resurrection. He asserted that the shroud shows no sign
of decay of its raw material.
Each session drew over 40 people, and occasionally increased to 100.
There were some who, interested in Christianity, picked up Catholic
publications.
Debate on who the man of the Shroud is has continued since the 19th
century. Paul de Gail, a French mathematician, declared that, having
examined all the data and information gained from the shroud, the probability
of the 'man of the Shroud' not being Jesus was only one in 25 billion.
OITA BISHOP MIYAHARA APPOINTED TO LEAD FUKUOKA
DIOCESE
Catholic Weekly, March 30, 2008
 On March 19, the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI
has chosen Bishop Ryoji Miyahara, 52, currently bishop of Oita,
as the sixth bishop of the Fukuoka diocese.
With the announcement, Bishop Miyahara will leave his duties as bishop
of Oita, but according to provisions of canon law, will administer
his current diocese until his installation in Fukuoka on May 18. The
see of Fukuoka has been vacant since the sudden death of Bishop Hisajiro
Matsunaga in June 2006.
On March 20, the day after the Vatican announcement, Bishop Miyahara
said, "As the decision of the Holy Father is inspired by the Holy
Spirit, it carries great weight. As always, we must try to understand
the will of God expressed through this appointment. I only hope that
I live up to the responsibility."
He continued, saying, "The reward for those who follow God's will
is an eternal walk with Him. Such hope for heaven is growing within
me."
Referring to his having to leave Oita, the bishop said, "I will
have so many memories of everyone."
On the subject of a successor there, he said, "There are some
things that I may accomplish, and some things I am unable to do. I
know the work of the bishops will continue as long as the world lasts,
but who will do the work is a different story. I will be happy if the
next Oita bishop were decided quickly, and I hope he will come to do
even more wonderful things here."
In March 1982, Bishop Miyahara was ordained as a priest of the Nagasaki
diocese. He studied canon law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
before returning to Nagasaki diocese, where he served in various roles
as a canon lawyer. In May 2000, he was announced as bishop of Oita
diocese, successor to Bishop Takaaki Hirayama. He was ordained bishop
on Oct. 1, 2000.
Fr. Soichi Kawakami, who has been working as administrator of the Fukuoka
diocese, said of the decision, "I'm happy to hear it. All of us
in the diocese have been anxious for a new bishop."
Thinking of the other diocese, he went on to say, "As someone
who has been working as a diocesan administrator, I imagine that Oita
diocese feels a bit deprived. I know they must be upset about losing
their bishop."
The priest also said, "Starting now, we have to work to bring
the whole diocese together, but I'm honestly relieved to be able to
put down this heavy burden (as adminstrator)."
The Fukuoka diocese has 66 parishes, mission stations and assembly
centers serving some 31,000 Catholics. The diocese was formed in 1927
from five prefectures that had been part of the diocese of Nagasaki:
Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Oita and Miyazaki. Later, Oita and Miyazaki
became the diocese currently designated as Oita diocese.
There has not been an ordination of a bishop for Fukuoka since that
of Bishop Senemon Fukahori in 1944. In 1969, Bishop Saburo Hirata transferred
there from Oita. He remained bishop until 1991, when Bishop Matsunaga
came in from the diocese of Nagasaki.
JAPANESE DELEGATION TO KOREA PROMOTES CONSTITUTION'S
PEACE PROVISION
Catholic Weekly, March 23, 2008
Auxiliary Bishop Goro Matsuura of Osaka led a visit to Korea March
7-11 to reciprocate a visit from the priests of the Iesu Sari (Life
of Jesus) group, who sent a delegation to Japan in May of last year.
It was an opportunity to extend the mutual understanding between the
neighboring countries, with much of the discussion focused on Article
9, the war-renouncing provision of the Japanese Constitution.
Joining Bp. Matsuura were Osaka's Fr. Masayuki Takabatake, head of
the diocesan social action center Sinapis; Handmaids of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus Sr. Haruko Ishikawa, representing the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan; and three young adults from Osaka diocese.
The Japanese delegation talked with young Iesu Sari members at their
office in Seoul before driving nearly two and a half hours south to
experience mountain village communal life in a community of only five
families. There they reflected on cooperation and discussed Article
9.
The delegation went on to other small parishes, collecting signatures
after Mass in support of the war-renouncing provision of the Japanese
constitution. They also watched a professional play on the subject
of comfort women, women forced to serve as prostitutes for the Japanese
army during the war years. The group also visited the homeless.
"The young adults at Iesu Sari were really great," Sr. Ishikawa
said. "This generation can really live out the kingdom of God,
living lives of holy poverty. The youth have heart. The three young
adults (from Osaka) also seemed to be really impressed."
On March 10, the Japanese visited Cardinal Cheong Jin-suk in Seoul,
who said, "Following the examples of Germany and Poland, I hope
to see more cooperation between the bishops' conferences of both Japan
and Korea, and among all the people of both countries, in order to
bring about peace and mutual understanding in this part of the world.
I am glad to see the grassroots connections being made here."
For the three lay Japanese, it was an unusually deep lesson in Article
9, and a good chance to practice social justice.
"I was surprised about their attitude, that they knew about the
problem and really cared about it," said graduate student Akiko
Tada, 25, of Yakatamachi Church in Wakayama.
Thinking of how unpopular the Korean group's lifestyle of poverty would
be in Japan, she said, "It's great that they've chosen a way of
life that follows the Gospel without compromise in this highly developed
world."
At a press conference on the first day of the visit, Bp. Matsuura challenged
listeners, saying, "The voices in favor of Article 9, the people
who want to prevent war, are being blocked. Force cannot resolve strife.
That is the spirit of Article 9."
The conference received great media attention in Korea that day, including
a mention in the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
FROM TERRORIST IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO MISSIONARY
IN JAPAN
Catholic Weekly, March 23, 2008
A Protestant missionary in Kobe, Reverend Hugh Browne, 50, who has
been working in Japan for the past 23 years, is a former terrorist
from Northern Ireland. Along with being pastor of Nishiharima Church
in Tatsuno city, he visits Kobe prison regularly where he talks about
his experience, encouraging the inmates by telling them, "You
can always start life again."
"No matter what sin you commit, you can be born again. I have
experienced this myself, and so can say this with certainty. If this
was a lie, what I say to young people and to prisoners would be meaningless.
While I am not proud of my past as a terrorist, I believe that speaking
about this experience is a calling from God."
Since writing about his experience in a book published in 2001, Naze
hito o koroshite wa ikenai no desu ka (Why is killing wrong?), Rev.
Browne has been invited to schools and teachers' conferences around
the country to speak on subjects like "the dignity of life," "the
importance of family bonds," and "living hope."
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he spent his childhood in an area
where crime was frequent. Rev. Browne said that almost 90 percent of
the young people in that area became involved in illegal activities
and he did so too. His early involvement soon led to serious crime
and at age 15 he was noticed by the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) which
was opposing the activities of the IRA (Irish Republican Army). They
enticed him to become a member.
"It looked good. I felt strong. I thought I would become a hero,
and so I joined. But after a month I realized that they were just a
violent gang. I did not wish to continue with them. But leaving them
would have meant that I would be killed."
Although he was not involved in killing anyone, in order to stay alive
Rev. Browne participated in bank robberies and bombing campaigns, and
was the leader of a unit of 60 men. His life was always in danger,
and both of his knees were knocked off by the enemy organization. It
was a living hell for him.
"The Northern Ireland conflict was largely misunderstood as a
religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics, but Christians
were not killing each other there. It is a conflict between English
and Irish about the control of territory. Ninety nine percent of those
participating in terrorist activities had no interest in religion,
and even if they were customarily baptized as children they did not
have faith, and never went to church. Those people who truly believed
in Christ despised the terrorists and had nothing to do with them."
Rev. Browne's family, too, became caught up in the Northern Ireland
conflict and were split. His parents and one elder brother were devout
Christians and did not become involved with the terrorists, but his
three other elder brothers were sucked into the struggle and became
terrorists because, as the pastor said, "Going around with friends
was more enjoyable than going to church. Men who went to church did
not look good."
Rev. Browne changed after he was arrested when someone informed the
authorities on him and he was sentenced to six years in prison for
political offenses at the age of 20. In prison he had a totally unexpected
experience.
"It was after looking at the film Ben Hur. I was strangely sucked
into the scene where Christ is nailed to the cross on Golgotha. On
seeing that cross, for the first time in my life I understood my own
sins. In my heart I cried out 'I have crucified Jesus!'"
He understood that his fundamental sin was not the evil acts and terrorism
that he had been involved in with his delinquent companions, but ignoring
God, not believing in God, and living a self-centered life. At the
moment when he realized that, Reverend Browne said that "I did
not wish to continue living without any faith. I wanted to accept Christ
and live as a Christian."
After that he began to read the Bible and pray, but he could not understand
the resurrection, the core of Christianity.
"But I read the Letter to the Galatians and the scales fell from
my eyes. Chapter 2, verse 20, 'I am crucified with Christ, and it is
no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' The moment I was convinced
that the resurrected Christ was now living also within my heart, my
heart was completely filled with joy and peace. The faith I had received
from God, I would never let go again!"
In the prison there were many UVF terrorists. If anyone left the terrorist
organization they could even be killed inside the prison. But Rev.
Browne, who had risked his life to become a Christian, finished his
six-year term and placed his fate in the hands of God. Then a miracle
happened. The leader of the terrorist organization shook hands with
Browne when he was being released from prison and said, "Let's
do our best." That truly surprised him.
After leaving prison, Browne believed that God wished him to become
a missionary, so he entered a seminary and was later sent to Japan.
Speaking of conversion, Rev. Browne said, "Anybody can be born
again like I was. But there is one condition. If the person who has
sinned tries by himself and even does his best to be born again, it
is impossible. If it is only a human effort, it will fail. What is
important is to want from your heart to be born again, and with all
your heart ask God's help. As long as you continue to trust in Christ,
you will not fail. Do you wish to continue a self-centered life without
the need for God? Or choose a life searching for God, with God as the
center? That is the crucial decision!"
"Nippon Notes" by William Grimm
DEAD AND LIVING SAINTS
UCA News
TOKYO (UCAN) -- November 24 will mark the beatification ceremony
of 188 Japanese martyrs of the seventeenth century.
The nation's bishops have spent years preparing for the Roman decision
on the beatification and now are focused on the ceremony. Travel agencies
are putting together tour packages for pilgrims going to Nagasaki for the
celebration. Millions of yen are being collected to cover expenses.
Everything seems to be falling into place -- everything, that is,
except a broad-based enthusiasm for the whole business.
The beatification rite will take place in Nagasaki because there
is not enough local support for doing it elsewhere, even in Tokyo and other
places where the martyrdoms took place. Nagasaki, with its rich history
of Catholicism and persecution, is the fall-back venue for Church events
when other places cannot or will not host them.
Of course, I may simply be projecting my own lack of interest by
thinking there is little interest on the part of others.
I have been skeptical about the whole saint-making system ever since
I imagined a crowd of the blessed in heaven fighting over whose turn it
is to be responsible for a miracle, while an angelic bureaucrat announces
lottery winners and earthbound advocates gather money to glorify the dead
whose lives were dedicated to serving the living poor.
A colleague once observed that the Church already has plenty of dead
saints; we should put more effort into making living saints.
In 1984, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan set guidelines
for the Church in Japan. The first is, "The good news of salvation is to
be brought to each and every person."
Each year, I am amazed and angered that phone calls to chancery offices
on Easter Monday to find out how many catechumens were received into the
Church on Holy Saturday get a variation of "we'll have the answer when
we publish our annual diocesan statistics."
Are we not curious to know how effective the Church's evangelization
efforts have been? Have we no interest to provide a timely personal welcome
to our new brothers and sisters? Is a half-hour telephone survey of parishes
too onerous a task for diocesan bishops and bureaucrats?
In fact, since the bishops declared that proclaiming the Good News
to all is a priority, the number of baptisms each year has dropped precipitously
to less than half of what it was when the bishops established the guidelines.
We seem to have lost the conviction that our relationship with Christ
in faith is precious enough to share with all people. Instead, we make
a fuss over those who had that conviction four centuries ago.
At this year's Easter Vigil in Rome, Pope Benedict welcomed Magdi
Allam, a prominent Muslim journalist in Italy, into the Catholic Church.
Allam's life has been threatened in the past because of his comments about
Muslims when he was still one himself. In an inspiring essay about his
conversion, he faced the possibility that his choice to follow Christ might
result in martyrdom.
Allam said he was aware that "conversion to Christianity will certainly
procure for me yet another, and much more grave, death sentence for apostasy
... I know what I am headed for but I face my destiny with my head held
high, standing upright and with the interior solidity of one who has the
certainty of his faith."
He went on to speak of the Church being "too prudent in the conversion
of Muslims" because of "fear." Such "prudence" and "fear" can also be
found in Japan in our dealings with Buddhists, atheists and agnostics,
even though the worst we face is indifference rather than death.
The seventeenth-century martyrs showed that faithfulness mattered
then, and Magdi Allam and others like him show us that it still matters.
Can they inspire us to imitate them today, proclaiming Christ to the world?
The Japanese martyrs, as all martyrs, obviously were killed because
people knew they were Christians. They did not hide their faith nor did
they deny it.
Can we say the same about ourselves? Do our words and actions show
that we are followers of Jesus? Do we have enough confidence in the life-giving
love of God to live and proclaim our faith no matter what the challenges?
Perhaps the best way to honor the 188 martyrs is not a ceremony,
but a renewed dedication on the part of each Catholic in Japan to actually
proclaim the Good News. The example of those dead saints and of living
ones can be the means for us to make more living saints.
Maryknoll Father William Grimm is
the editor-in-chief of Katorikku Shimbun, Japan's Catholic weekly.
Opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do
not represent the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan.
back to top
SISTER CONDUCTS FIRST COMMUNION CLASS IN BRAZILIAN SCHOOL
Catholic Weekly, March 9, 2008
 Carmelite Sisters of Charity Sister Mitsue Shirahama
has begun a First Communion class at Pingo de Gente School,
a school for Brazilian children in Shimotsuma city, Ibaraki
prefecture.
"Several years ago the school approached me about opening a
preparatory class for first communion students," said Sr. Shirahama. "Being
involved in other assignments I could not respond to the call immediately.
But, now I am able to get it going."
When the one-year course is completed, she will arrange for students
to receive their First Communion at their parish churches.
"I thought my class would cover all students, but the school
requested a voluntary class. At the moment, 16 students are attending,"said
the Sister.
Maria Shizuko Yoshida, principal of the school, explained the background
to having the class at the school.
"It is taken for granted in Brazil that public schools provide
First Communion classes. Parents worry about their children, since
they have to work from Monday to Saturday, and Sunday is the day
for them to do household chores. As churches are located in distant
areas, children cannot go by themselves to attend Mass or Sunday
School, so parents wanted us to set up an after-school class."
There are about 310,000 Brazilians living in Japan. Most of their
children attend some 90 Brazilian schools. Though Japanese schools
are open to them, parents do not choose them, fearing interracial
conflicts such as bullying.
Sr. Shirahama commented, "The lives of Brazilian families are
not easy. Their working environments are unstable. They often have
to move from one place to another. I assume that parents who choose
a Brazilian school for their children are thinking of returning to
their homeland some day when they have earned enough money. Their
minds sway between 'When to return?' and 'Are we fated to remain?'
which affects their children's lives."
 Brazilian schools are non-official institutions operated outside
the Japanese administration, so neither public support nor governmental
subsidies are provided. Pingo de Gente, which celebrated its 10th
anniversary in 2007, is no exception. Over 200 children from babies
to high school students are picked up by bus from places two or three
kilometers away. The schoolhouse is made of plywood. Rooms are small
and poor with narrow windows.
Sr. Shirahama said, "Because there are no public subsidies,
school fees are high. Since children have a right to education, I
wish the government would provide help like letting us use school
buildings that have been closed."
She herself was an immigrant from Japan to Brazil as a child. From
that experience, she worries about children's uneasy lives, as they
slacken their study and eventually lose their motivation for learning.
She said she is concerned over young Brazilians as it is said that
insufficient education in early days often leads to later delinquency.
"We are sojourners too, similar to the Israelites in the Exodus," Sister
Shirahama told her class.
|
