Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) – The spark of a vocation could come through the Internet. This is what has been affirmed by the new task force dedicated to the promotion of vocations, recently established by the Catholic Church in Japan. This is what Agenzia Fides has learned from the Bishops' Conference. It involves a group of people who will monitor the subject of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life throughout Japan, seeking solutions to the most glaring problems and emerging issues, and propose practical guidelines for giving a boost to vocations in Japanese land.
The team is chaired by Archbishop Jun Ikenaga of Osaka and the Bishop Jun'ichi Nomura of Nagoya, and includes priests, theologians, experts, religious, and laity.
The committee started from an analysis of the situation, identifying the root causes of the shortage of vocations in Japan, mainly a result of the individualistic and materialistic culture that does not leave room for the transcendent dimension of man.
Among the new resources being identified to broaden the scope of the apostolate and the promotion of vocations, is the anticipated launch of "vocational blogs" on the Internet, and also using traditional recourses. It is hoped that it will be a new approach to generating enthusiasm and a reawakening of vocations in Japan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 3/2/2010)
