Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yokohama (Fides Service) – To improve pastoral work priests of Yokohama archdiocese in Japan, have told their Bishop that they would like to form “common administration parishes” in the different areas of the archdiocese.
The experiment was approved by Bishop Umemura Masahiro. According to their competencies, the parish priests will form groups aimed at harmonising pastoral work in the different parishes. The initiative is unusual because it was the priests who made the suggestion to the Bishop, who gave his permission.
In 2000 Bishop Umemura Masahiro issued a Pastoral Letter “Towards a Church of Communion” in which he underlined that “the Church is built up with the contribution of many people with different talents and who share many graces”. The Bishop said that from the point of view of communion, “the present system, with one priest per parish, should be improved.” Moreover the fact that some churches are without a resident priests, called for different solutions, such as building new communities to take care of a certain number of parishes and mission stations.”
Father Michael Gualtier, MEP, parish priest at Shizuoka, explains that every group of priests will strive to form lay persons and young people to be pastoral workers in the territory. For this purpose, the archdiocese organised courses in catechesis, theology and Sacred Scripture which were attended by more than 100 people.
The experience of team work, Father Gualtier says, “strengthens bonds between priests who share faith in Christ and it also had a beneficial effect on the laity, fostering a deeper sense of communion, awareness and responsibility”. PA (Fides Service 27/6/2003 EM lines 27 Words: 302)
