Japan Catholic News
March 2007
OSAKA ARCHDIOCESE ISSUES SUPPLEMENT TO MANUAL FOR ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 11, 2007
An Osaka diocesan team that last year issued a translation of a South
African manual for adult religious education, A Journey Together, has
issued a supplementary reader written by Fr. Akira Nakagawa titled
Notes and Reference Material to Accompany Our Journey Together. It
was completed Feb. 28 and will be distributed to all the parishes of
the archdiocese. It is not for sale in bookstores.
The original manual drawn up by the South African Lumko Institute is
considered excellent for leaders who want to strengthen their own faith
as they go about building community, but because it reflects local
conditions it is not possible to use it in Japan just as it stands.
Therefore, the team prepared the supplement.
The 280-page A4-size supplement bears the sub-title "A Manual
for Adult Catechumens and the Christian Community Who are Making the
Journey of Faith Together."
The contents are divided over 45 themes. When used, each theme is explained
by a leader and then discussed in small groups in order to deepen the
members' understanding. It closes with a summary.
Fr. Nakagawa stressed two points in preparing the supplement. The first
is that it transmits important teaching through a variety of stories,
urging readers to reflect on themselves and change their lives. In
other words, "narrative theology," but this format taken
alone does not suffice as a doctrinal primer. "I want the reader
to understand the limits of the text," he said. "Some priests
say it is interesting but lopsided."
He said his second point is, "The process of building a strong
faith in order to live a full, rich life is important. We differ from
each other in age, sex and the environment in which we grew up. I shall
be happy if the Notes and Reference Material helps readers to build
a strong faith."
Archbishop Jun Ikenaga, who established the team to produce the catechetical
manual, stressed the importance of having the baptized faithful also
participate in the doctrine classes for the catechumens.
"We need the laity also to take part in pastoral care. This is the spirit
of Vatican II and we have always, through NICE (National Incentive
Convention on Evangelization), stressed this factor in diocesan planning.
I am touring all the parishes urging the laity to take an active part."
The archbishop added that as the number of priests decreases, the laity
will have to take over classes for catechumens.
In the foreword, Archbishop Ikenaga wrote, "We are still only
at the start of the path that can help us make our own the true Catholic
faith and explain it to the Japanese who have not yet found it."
The supplement Notes and Reference Material for Our Journey Together may be had at cost price by applying to the Osaka Diocesan Chancery
by fax or phone at 06-6946-1345
BLOGS BECOME POPULAR TOOL OF EVANGELIZATION IN JAPAN
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 18, 2007
According to the Catholic News Service (CNS), the North American Catholic
press agency, last autumn Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston started
writing a blog (Internet diary) which has established a reputation
as the "top Church blog" on the Internet. This year he began
podcasts, Internet broadcasts that include images.
The same phenomenon is taking place in Japan.
According to Sr. Hiromi Shimokama, 55, of the Society of Mary Auxiliatrice
in Nagasaki, who writes a blog, "Even though we cannot see each
other, we are in contact somehow, and I like that."
Bishops Isao Kikuchi, 48, of Nigata and Kenjiro Koriyama, 64, of Kagoshima
have blogs. So have the Daughters of St. Paul Sisters.
Bishop Kikuchi updates his blog almost every day, and readers can learn
about the meetings and Masses he attends both within and outside of
Japan. When he taught at a university the bishop started a homepage
for students and after his appointment as bishop of Niigata he hoped
it would "increase the sharing of information within Niigata diocese
and help build a sense of community." Since there are many Catholics
who do not use the Internet, some churches print out the bishop's homepage
and make copies available to parishioners.
Bishop Koriyama, who began using the Internet around the end of the
1990's, said, "I heard that between 50 and 60 thousand young people
are surfing the Internet at night, so the Web is a kind of spider web.
I began to upload my Sunday homilies and thought it would be good if
some young people were caught in that web." He began to use voice-over
files early on so that people could hear the homilies, and since becoming
bishop he has continued this activity. "When I give a talk someplace,
I try to upload a recording as soon as possible afterwards," he
said.
Sr. Shimokama, who works at the Nagasaki diocesan office, writes in
her blog about her daily activities. The blog's title, todo no
inori (prayer of the sea lion), was inspired by the words of an sick elderly
sister who said, "Each day I can only lie back like a sea lion
and pray." Sr. Shimokama said that she wished to continue the
prayers of that sister.
The Daughters of St. Paul blog is part of the website that introduces
their publications and provides information about Christianity. Sr.
Tanako Ono, 49, who manages the blog, said, "The blog it is a
new form of communication. It is lighter than other parts of the website,
and I upload things that happen and I wish to tell others about."
Commenting on readersof her blog who have traveled all the way to Nagasaki,
Sr. Shimokama said, "Last year about 20 people came. Nagasaki
attracts people as a place of faith. I just happen to be here. When
people actually meet me, they say, 'you are just as you write in your
diary!'"
In Tokyo there was a meeting of people who have met her. "Five
people have already received baptism. Others are preparing for baptism.
It is good when the faith is passed on in this way," the nun said.
In Sr. Shimokama's blog people can write messages, and she is able
to delete inappropriate comments.
"When many people leave messages, it is inevitable that some are strange," she
said. "I try to be careful about then, but at the same time think
that it is all missionary work."
Bishop Kikuchi said that he does not have time to manage his website
and so does not accept messages. While photographs are, according to
Bishop Kikuchi, "difficult to arrange" and it is hard to
choose suitable ones for his website, "there are people who wish
to have their photographs put on it."
People may write comments on Bishop Koriyama's website, and on some
themes, the bishop said, comments are sent in "like arrows flying
through he air." Bishop Koriyama tries to reply to each one because,
he said, "in repeating this, peace comes. I have learned that
people are of many kinds."
JAPAN'S AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN VISITS BISHOPS
CATHOLIC WEEKLY March 4, 2007
 The Japanese ambassador to the Holy See, Kagefumi Ueno, visited the
Catholic Center in Shiomi, Tokyo, Feb. 23 and met with Bishop Junichi
Nomura of Nagoya, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of
Japan and other members of the conference.
Appointed Japanese envoy to the Vatican in November of last year, Ueno
was in Japan to attend a meeting of European ambassadors at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
With the process of beatification of 188 Japanese martyrs entering
the final stages, the ambassador greeted the bishops, saying, "I
am sure it is all right to say congratulations."
Commenting on Pope Benedict XVI's address to the ambassadors to the
Holy See on Jan. 8, Ueno said the pope "appealed for solutions
to 44 problems, ranging from regional conflicts to migration and environmental
degradation."
Making a reference to Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1700), otherwise known
as Mito Komon, a wise and benevolent ruler of the Mito domain (now
part of Ibaragi prefecture), the ambassador said, "The Pope is
similar to the secretary general of the United Nations; I want to call
him the international Komon-sama."
Describing entering the Sala Regia, a state hall of the Vatican where
guests are received, Ambassador Ueno said, "It was the same place
the (Japanese) youth envoys to the Vatican stood over 400 years ago,
and I was deeply moved. That one of them, Julian Nakaura, will be beatified,
is a great joy."
He also spoke of his reactions and impressions of Vatican diplomacy
and information gathering, the activities of Caritas in Africa, and
so on.
The bishops who met with Ambassador Ueno talked about the significance
of the beatification of the martyrs for the present day. If the beatification
ceremony is held in Japan, a special envoy of the pope and high officials
from the Vatican will come to Japan.
The ambassador responded by saying that the beatification will be an "historic
event, for Japan, and I wish to cooperate as much as possible."
RETIRING JESUIT TEACHER REFLECTS ON ROLE OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 18, 2007
 Jesuit Father Anselmo Mataix, 78, marked his March retirement after
teaching for 36 years at Sophia University and then going on to work
for eight years as principal of Seibo Jogakuin Junior College in Kyoto
by conducting a symposium March 3 on "the mission of Catholic
universities and the future of young people" at Notre Dame Women's
College in Kyoto.
The symposium was co-sponsored by Seibo Gakuin and Notre Dame Women's
College, both in Kyoto.
As priests and religious will not be available in the future to work
in these universities, they decided to hold the symposium as a sign
of their cooperation and as an opportunity to think again about the
meaning of a Catholic university.
Fr. Mataix emphasized two points about Catholic universities in an
interview with the Catholic Weekly. The first point was the position
of the university in Europe during the Middle Ages.
"From the beginning, theology was central," he said. "Other
subjects developed around theology. In modern times, philosophy became
central. There tended to be one world-view, one set of values, and
so it was called a 'uni-versity.'"
The priest commented, though, that at present in Japan as well as in
Europe and the United States there is no core study in the universities.
"Every department is different. There is no unity, especially in Japan,
where each department is autonomous in both finance and staffing. I
think that in the present age the special characteristic of a Catholic
university is its being a 'uni-versity.' There should be one set of
values and a unified policy for choosing lecturers, selecting the curriculum,
and so on," he said.
Speaking of the practical values that must be emphasized, he added, "I
think a lot about human dignity. This is a key word. I myself am sacred,
other people are sacred. We respect each other, and all of us are cared
for by God. The university should be permeated with a sense of the
dignity of the human person."
Secondly, a Catholic university is "a place of encounter."
"As a place of encounter, first of all there is an encounter with God — through
prayer, and meeting with other people. As Mother Teresa said, 'each
day is an encounter with God.' For me personally, meeting with people
is important. My meeting with Mother Teresa was an intense experience.
I am what I am today because of my encounters with my seniors and juniors,
my fellow workers and so on. In guiding students in the university,
for example, it should not be just 'from above,' but we should try
to arrange places where people can encounter each other. Students should
be guided gently. Even with relationships among staff members, I would
like to think of them relating through encounters with each other."
This should not apply only to universities, but to all Catholic schools,
he added.
"It is good to have priests and nuns, but we have to do something when
they are no longer there, or else Catholic schools will just become
like any other school."
CARITAS JAPAN SUPPORTS EDUCATION FOR BANGLADESH MINORITIES
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 25, 2007
Caritas Japan secretariate members Isao Tadakoro and Sawako Inae conducted
an inspection tour Feb. 5-11 of educational projects that Caritas sponsors
in Bangladesh. They visited the southeastern hill country of Chittagong
and Sylhet, the famous tea country in the northeast.
Chittagong, on the borders of India and Myanmar, is home to a minority
group called the Juma who live in an area where government rule does
not fully extend. According to Inae, when Bangladesh became independent,
the rights of minority groups were ignored and even now there are incidents
of cruel mistreatment of these people.
Caritas Japan has a three-year agreement with the district to provide
six million yen for educational projects. Two years have passed since
the first inspection.
Commenting on the situation, Inae said, "The area where these
minority groups live is still being confiscated by the government,
so people have no security, no solid base on which to plan their lives.
There is no education whatsoever, even among the parents. The people
support themselves by burning off brush before tilling."
The Caritas project involves providing a school in each little village
of 11 to 17 families in scattered locations in the hill country. Each
district is responsible for the school building, while Caritas assists
in training and paying the teachers. During the past two years, 141
schools have been built or rebuilt.
"The diocese is very well run," Inae said. "Pastoral care
and training are good and the communities are well organized. Because
the teachers come from such communities, they are prepared to work
for smaller salaries than the state standard. They are also people
of the highest character and natural leaders of the community. Caritas
Bangladesh is under good management and making a solid contribution
to the community."
A basic education is equipping the people with skills to protect their
rights and trained leaders will form communities to consolidate people's
way of life, added Inae.
Based upon the results of the inspection, decisions will be made on
further assistance to the area.
A similar educational support project is continuing in Dinapur-Rajshahi
in the northeast, but distance did not permit an inspection at this
time. Sylhet has also requested assistance for a new educational project.
Caritas Japan will examine the conditions and decide on what assistance
it can give.
BISHOPS' CONFERENCE CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF SEPARATION
OF POLITICS AND RELIGION
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 4, 2007
Seventeen bishops and one diocesan administrator from Japan's 16 dioceses
at an extraordinary plenary session of the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of Japan (CBCJ) approved a message calling for a renewed commitment
to freedom of religion and respect for the principle of the separation
of politics and religion.
The meeting took place at the Catholic Center in Shiomi, Tokyo, Feb.
19-23. Representatives of the conferences of male and female religious
superiors also took part in discussions.
On Feb. 21, the bishops approved a message on the freedom of religion
and the separation of politics and religion that had been drafted by
the Episcopal Commission for Social Issues.
The message reaffirmed the principle of separating politics and religion,
and, touching on the present guarantees of the freedom of religious
expression, expressed misgivings about moves to allow activities such
as official government involvement in the Yasukuni Shrine as "social
ceremonies."
The bishops' message is entitled, "We firmly appeal for adherence
to the principle of separation of Government and Religion, which guarantees
freedom of religion as one of the basic human rights." The message
is addressed "To Our Brothers and Sisters in the Church and To
All People."
The opening paragraph states that the message is prompted by misgivings
about recent trends in the Japanese political situation that threaten
the principle of the separation of politics and religion and the freedom
of religion.
The message goes on to confirm that the separation of politics and
religion does not proscribe religions from engaging in political activities,
but regulates the relationship of the state and religious bodies.
The message also acknowledges that during its history the Catholic
Church has threatened the freedom of other religions. It states that
since the Second Vatican Council the Church has affirmed the freedom
of religion, saying, "The Church and states are mutually independent
and autonomous and should never be commingled." The message emphasizes
that mutual cooperation is necessary for the good of all.
On the basis of this understanding, the message reflects on the history
of religious freedom in Japan. Following centuries of persecution and
the martyrdom of Christians in Japan, the 1889 Meji Constitution only
permitted religious freedom if it did not interfere with public order
and was not contrary to the duties of citizens, saying, "Japanese
subjects shall, within limits not prejudicial to peace and order, and
not antagonistic to their duties as subjects, enjoy freedom of religious
belief."
The Message recalls that before the Showa War, worship at Shinto shrines
was considered a "social ceremony" in which Christians were
required to participate. Article 20 of the present post-war Japanese
constitution stipulates that, "freedom of religion is guaranteed
to all ... The State and its organs shall refrain from religious education
or any other religious activity." This was the first complete
guarantee of religious freedom in Japan.
The text of the bishops' message is being distributed to news organizations,
diocesan offices and religious orders. It is also available in English
on the CBCJ homepage: http://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/eng/edoc/070221.htm.
During March the CBCJ will publish a commentary on the message.
DISABLED YOSAKOI DANCERS OFF TO SWEDEN
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 25, 2007
The Rise and Shine Troupe, a yosakoi dance team based at the Ma Maison
Kosei rehabilitation center for the mentally disabled sponsored by
the Bethany Sisters in Tochigi prefecture, has been invited to take
part in a music festival in Sweden. Yosakoi is a traditional summer
folk dance.
"It's an unexpected opportunity," said Hiromi Omokawa, 42, a guidance
counselor and leader of the team going to Sweden for the group's first
trip abroad.
"Our slower members have gotten a shot in the arm and are feeling life
is worth living. There is a great atmosphere of 'Hang in, Let's go!'" she
added.
The Kultur Kulpet music festival in Lund, May 25-26, is intended to
provide an opportunity for people with disabilities and others to get
together from different cultures. The Rise and Shine Troupe will be
the only participants from Japan.
The invitation to the troupe came after the festival organizers approached
Masayuki Otake, 64, a member of the Japan-Sweden Social Welfare Research
Center. He suggested the Rise and Shine Troupe.
Talking of the beginning of the group in 2001, Omokawa said, "At
first, there was some resistance to learning yosakoi because the members
had no experience, but gradually the emotion, good feelings and joy
of being alive began to come through. So far, they have given over
20 public performances."
The 16 dancers and six attendants will stay in Sweden, May 25-27.
The organizers provide accommodations and plane tickets for the outward
journey but the troupe must raise the 2.4 million yen return fare.
Donations are needed. For information contact: 0287-77-0103.
MIXED REACTIONS GREET PARISH'S ICONIC RICE CRACKERS
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 18, 2007
 Tile-shaped rice crackers featuring an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
are provoking varied reactions at a parish in Gunma prefecture: "If
I eat them will something bad happen to me?" "Will something
good happen?" "I cannot eat Our Lady!"
The crackers are very popular as gifts during ceremonies at Maebashi
Church, used as presents to encourage young people studying for exams
and as snacks to serve with tea to visitors to the church.
Father Hiroshi Oka and parishioners at the church came up with the
idea of the crackers in an attempt to "give something different,
an unusual gift" to adults and children who visit the church at
Christmas.
They asked a confectionary maker in nearby Saitama prefecture to bake
an image of Our Lady copied from a painting in the church onto the
crackers.
According to the parish secretary, people who come to the church for
the first time do not have a chance to really look around the building.
After eating the crackers people ask where the image is. Some come
to look around the church, or telephone and ask, "whose picture
is this?"
One middle-aged parishioner said of the cracker, "I feel a sense
of awe at it, and kept it in my home rather than eating it!"
In response to such reactions, Fr. Oka said, "We receive the sacred
host. Should we not also receive these crackers and eat them gratefully?"
SAPPORO PARISH ORGANIZES YOUTH VISIT TO PHILIPPINES
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 4, 2007
Eighteen high school and university students from 12 parishes in the
Sapporo diocese visited Manila and Quezon City in the Philippines Jan.
4 - 10.
The Konopporo Church in Sapporo is a sister-church of the Mabuting
Pastol Parish in the Novaliches diocese in the Philippines and has
organized various exchanges since 1990. In addition to the exchange
programs, the Japanese parish arranges charity concerts and other events
to give education scholarships to students in the Philippines.
According to Taisuke Mizukami, 75, who led the group, each of the young
people spent four nights staying at the homes of families of the parishes
they visited. These parishes are in a poor area of Quezon City where
social services are as yet undeveloped, and people from rural areas
on their way to Manila often gather there.
Mizukami said that though many of the local people appear to be full
of life, electricity and water services have only recently been supplied
to the area. However, since there are still no sewage pipes, household
waste often flows onto the streets.
During this trip, scholarships worth 150,000 yen were entrusted to
the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) which administers
parishes in the area.
One of the participants in the exposure trip, Mai Oyamauchi, 18, of
the Kitajuichijo Church said, "Last year's exposure trip was cancelled,
so I was really looking forward to this trip. I felt at ease with the
family from the first day of the home stay, and I enjoyed the local
children and the kids at the church. The Mass was moving and powerful.
Everyone was truly friendly."
JAPAN LAY MISSIONARIES CELEBRATE SILVER JUBILEE
CATHOLIC WEEKLY February 11, 2007
 The Japan Lay Missionary Movement (JLMM ) celebrated its 25th Anniversary
with a Feb. 3 Mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center in Tokyo.
About 250 former members, supporters and people who have been associated
with the JLMM over the years attended the celebration.
Before the Mass, former members of the group spoke about things that
struck them during their assignments, saying such things as, "I
felt myself powerless," "I just prayed," "We all
stood there looking up at the star-filled skies," and "I
shared one fish with a lot of villagers."
In his sermon during the Mass, Archbishop Jun Ikenaga of Osaka said
he was impressed by the stories the missionaries had told and he hoped
they would share those experiences with the people at their own churches.
"The JLMM is the only Japanese body that has members working as missionaries
overseas. They are too little known. We must give them greater support," he
said.
A Gospel Choir made up of associate members gave a recital after Mass.
They had been practicing since August last year.
Society of the Divine Word Father Michael Seigel, the founder of the
JLMM, told how it started.
Two young men came to him in 1977 saying they wished to volunteer for
work in South America. He suggested they contact the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) that sends volunteers abroad.
However, the two insisted that they wanted to work in a field where
their faith would mean something. The priest felt that individual zeal
alone would not suffice and that some kind of organization was needed.
At that time, Fr. Seigel met Mizuko Tokunaga, who had been working
as a Belgian lay missionary in what was formerly Zaire. Ideas began
to gel, take shape, and eventually became a reality. Since then, the
JLMM has worked in 16 countries.
Speaking during the ceremony, a JLMM former member who had gone to
Russia in 1999 and worked there for about two years, said, "The
JLMM is one of the Church's treasures. By baptism, every Christian
should be a messenger of love by word and deed. Mission begins with
us laity."
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