NEWS TIDBITS FROM JAPAN MISSION
Three months have passed since the government declared a “State of Emergency” because of COVID-19. The famous slogan adopted was “STAY HOME!” This applied to all sectors of society, including churches, climaxing with the suspension of all masses and church activities. How has this affected our apostolic activities in Japan?
Akenohoshi Pre-School, Hayama
In Japan, the new school year usually begins in early April. This time, it opened in late May. The orientation of teachers was brief, with masks and social distancing observed. The new Principal, Mrs. Motoko Takeishi, the first Catholic layperson to assume the position and who has received formation across years from our Sisters, delivered a heartfelt speech injecting the faith dimension and the spirit of Mother Candida as the school year started with many uncertainties. There was no Opening Ceremony, a much-awaited milestone in the life of the children and their families. And to welcome the very young ones who usually have a difficult time on the first day, a YouTube video was prepared by the teachers and could be accessed by the parents ahead of time (See http://www.akenohoshi-hayama.ed.jp/ ).
In ordinary circumstances, one gets used to the voices and laughter of almost two hundred preschoolers daily. This time, classes were divided into three levels, with one level coming one day at a time. The children came in masks, with temperatures checked by their parents beforehand and their school bus immediately sanitized before picking up the next batch. Class hours were shortened, many regular activities were cancelled, and social distancing was observed in the classroom. Newsletter and the webpage were the major means to communicate with parents and continue their formation.
St. Ignatius Parish, Tokyo
“The first step towards the re-opening of the church” was done only last June 21, with pre-registration required for all Sunday masses. The English mass, usually with one thousand persons in attendance, was limited to one hundred! To reach out to the faithful, livestreaming of masses by different language groups was organized. Meetings were mostly done using the Zoom application. Sr. Flor Florece worked all the time “at home” but was at her busiest, helping coordinate using telework, the fourteen Ministries/groups of the John de Britto English Center. The monthly English Bulletin, which they produce for information, evangelization, and formation, was made online too. Worth mentioning was the fact that the International Youth Ministry remained very active during these times. During the Feast of the Pentecost, the group made a video on religious vocation and missionary life of missionaries in Japan. Together with some Jesuits and other missionaries, she was invited to appear in a Zoom video. Surprisingly, there were 462 viewers! A great opportunity for pastoral and vocation ministry, which here we do not have much chance to engage in, in recent years! See http://www.stignatius.jp/en/ for the full article and our pastoral involvement in the parish.
Catholic Tokyo International Center (CTIC)
“Sister, could you please come and visit me? I have so many things to share with you!” said a Peruvian on the phone. After two months of not being able to visit, Sr. Rosina has resumed her twice a month visit of migrants in Detention Centers. Likewise, not able to meet her Brazilian and Latin American groups in the five churches she goes to on Sundays, she would follow up through the internet with individuals and families so they would not feel abandoned in these pandemic times. She would send them catechetical materials and write them words of encouragement. Once, they organized a livestreamed Mass in Tokyo Cathedral so they would not lose contact with the church.
Archdiocese of Tokyo and Yokohama Diocese
In these times when going out is not encouraged, Sr. Gertrudes Ono continues to be busy doing counselling via telephone. She continues to write at home her monthly column in the Japan Catholic Weekly. Recently, a series of 24 lectures given by her on YouTube has been produced into a DVD by the Kokoro Tomoshibi (Light of the Heart), an educational apostolic activity on television. Part of the proceeds is donated for refugees’ support, which in these pandemic times are likewise very much affected. She also continues to be involved as a counselor for NPOs exploring the path for psychological support for incarcerated refugees and the provision of livelihood for those temporarily released.
Community
Animated by the “Fichas” on Evangelical Poverty, the “Call to Apostolic Action” by the CGXVII, and the Circular Letters of Mother General and the Provincial, this year, our “Plan of Life” is “Solidarity with those more vulnerable and as such, be a testimony and proclamation of Jesus in our world.” (2 Cor 8,9; Fil. 2,6-9). Daily, we are challenged to examine ourselves and how we are living this in concrete terms, both within the community and the reality that surrounds us.
How to be more proactive in discovering novel ways of evangelization and expressing our charism here in Japan… the Holy Spirit continues to weave its way and is teaching us how!
By Sr. Flor Florece, F.I.