Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - The large community of Catholics, mainly immigrants from Brazil, living in Joso, in the diocese of Saitama in the prefecture of Ibaraki has a new parish centre. The chapel was blessed by Bishop Daiji Tani in the presence of a jubilant community of immigrants of various nationalities as well as local Japanese born Catholics. “This is a happy day”, said Carmen Luci Akutsu, a lay Catholic woman. The community wishes to be rooted in love for the Eucharist and active in works of charity and solidarity. The chapel and catechism rooms are at the moment in a prefabricated building, but there are plans for a real church made of stone. Scalabrini Missionary Fr. Olmes Milani, who offers pastoral care to the Brazilian community said “this is a day of great blessing for our community”.
Another recent event for the local Church in Japan was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Salesian parish at Shimoigusa in Tokyo, dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. When Fr Vincenzo Cimatti, founder of the Salesian mission in Japan began his work in 1926 in Miyasaki he already dreamed of having a Salesian community in Tokyo, and this became possible in 1934, at Shimoigusa, a suburb of Tokyo. Here the Salesians opened a technical school which was destined to become a large polytechnic college. After World War II in 1948 Rev Cimatti started building a church in honour of Our Lady Help of Christians. Today the community has 2,300 faithful and continues to grow. Anniversary celebrations included reflection, study and special prayers. Parish priest Fr Giovanni Battista Massa, encouraged the faithful to be missionaries of the message of Christ’s love for all men and women. (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2006 righe 24 parole 234)
