ASIA/JAPAN - A Church that transcends nationality: Japanese diocese sends priest on mission to Brazil

Yokohama (Agenzia Fides) - “We want to be a Church that transcends nationality” said Bishop Umemura Masahiro of Yokohama who recently assigned a diocesan priest to Brazil in an experiment of ‘reverse missison’ convinced the experience overseas will serve also to promote renewal his own diocese in Japan. Yokohama diocese already has priests in Canada, Italy and Uganda engaged in research, study and evangelisation.
Fr Ishikawa Hiroyuki age 46 asked to be sent on mission convinced the experience will serve for his personal formation and well as be a witness for both diocesan communities. He mentioned that Yokohama diocese has about 100,000 Catholic immigrant workers most of them from Brazil. Direct experience of their country, mentality and culture will lead to more suitable pastoral care.
Fr. Ishikawa who studied in Brazil will remain in the south American country for at least three years during which will perfect his Portguese and help with pastoral work. F. Ishikawa, who has had mission experience in the Philippines in the time of dictator Marcos and in India, concluded: “The local Church should be a ‘community of comunities’ and this means making an effort to give the best possible pastoral care to foreigners to make them feel at home”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/9/2005 righe 25 parole 253)