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Ishinomaki Kawabiraki Festival
石巻川開き
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| at one point the lanterns are gathered together and flow together to the sea |
It’s summer – time for festivals- and Ishinomaki had its
major annual festival on Aug 1 (Kawa Biraki 川開き) in
Kita Kami River. The festival which honors the deceased by lighting candles in
a paper lantern (灯籠) (Toro) and releasing them to the river.
This year many
volunteers pitched in and over a thousands Toro where made on behalf of the
victims of the Tohoku Tragedy. The locals wrote the names of their lost loved
ones in their memory.
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| paper lanterns are passed by volunteers to be release to the river |
It was my first time to attend the festival and I could say
that the mood was sober and prayerful. Sister Hosoya shared a story of a father
who lost his daughter during the 3.11 disaster about his reflection on the
festival. He said that although the lanterns were release individually into the
river, but at one point these gather together in one area and flow together
into the sea. Like those who died during the tsunami, my daughter was alone but
at one point those who died with her are gathered together and journey towards
heaven. He said my daughter in not alone (寂しくない) .
As we join in the different festivals in our area, we
remember also our loves ones who passed away and offer a prayer of peace.
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We are blessed with a new member as staff in the Sendai Support Center for Foreigners. She will be here with us to help in our formation/education program and other.
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| Claire with Bishop Hiraga of Sendai Diocese |
I am Clarita Sanchez, a lay missionary from Cebu, Philippines. I am sent here in the Diocese of Sendai by the Archdiocese of Tokyo to reach out to the foreigners, especially the Filipino communities.
I came to Tokyo, Japan last year, August 9, 2013. I spent my first year studying Nihongo at the Naganuma school in Shibuya since October 1, 2013 until June 20, 2014. While studying Nihongo, I assisted in the education/formation and adoration/worship of the Catholic Tokyo International Center –English Pastoral Team (CTIC – EPT). Nine months of Nihongo lesson is not enough, I guess. So, I need you to correct my Nihongo.
I have learned many things in my one year stay in Japan, particularly the Japanese culture. I came to love the food and the different festivals in every season. I look forward to a more fascinating, learning and fruitful years here in Sendai.
by Claire
Faith in Action
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AOS Activity in Ishinomaki
Update from Ishinomaki Port
After a month here in Ishinomaki Area, i have seen a lot of foreigners especially men who were riding on their bicycle. I have seen men who looks iike seafarers lining up in the bank in front of the Caritas Base.
Then i inquire from the people here and they said that we have a port near by, and these are seafarers who are changing their money and go shopping in a nearby second hand shops.
A week after our transfer here, we met a local resident who has a small shop and she said that she was helping the Indonesian fishermen (Tuna Fishing) to buy their bicycle here. She said that she will bring us to the meet the fishermen when they are here in Ishinomaki.
Last night, Aiko san with our friend here visited the Indonesians and Micronesians fishermen . (I am suffering from a back pain so i decided not to join them). Aiko san had help them in their shopping.
I myself had met some Filipino seafarers who were doing their shopping in a send hand shop near by and offer to bring them to the nearest electronic shop. but it was already late in the evening, so i just brought them to their port. I am so surprised that the guard had allowed my to go up the ship. I even distributed a pocket calendar with prayers for them and met the captain.
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| dressed to dance |
The Caritas Base staff, volunteers and the Sendai Support Center Staff joined with the local community in Kawabiraki Matsuri (川開き祭り）last July 31 and Aug 1. This annual festival in the city marks the beginning of summer. We helped in making the paper lantern to be released to the river.
Together with the Suehiro cho community members we joined in the street dancing. It was a good opportunity to meet the different people from the different communities here in the city.
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| during the street dancing |
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| SCF Staff ready to dance |
FUKUSHIMA KEN
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Shirakawa Tagalog Mass
We had our monthly Rosary, Novena and Mass in Shirakawa. The presence of the children who are serving in the mass made our liturgy alive.
MIYAGI KEN
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Watari Catholic Church International Mass
We had our first international Mass in Watari Catholic Church, in which the Filipinos played the host for the community. We prepared the mass so that the participation of each one will be possible. We choose songs for the mass that everybody could sing and pray both in English and Japanese.
A simple sharing was hosted by the Filipinos in the area.
Filipino Community joins Miyagi Taikai
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| Minami San Riku group with Fr. Komatsu |
The Filipino community in Miyagi Ken joined in the Miyagi taikai, a gathering of Christians in the Miyagi ken area. The theme for this years gathering is '未来につなぐ信仰をー子供たちとともに’ The children from the different churches in the area had their presentation during the gathering. Bishop Hiraga, Sendai Diocese lead the mass the culminated the gathering.
The FILCOM Sendai presented a dance number during the Taikai.
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| Filipino shared their talent during the gathering |
AOMORI KEN
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Hirosaki Community Rosary - Novena
Every second Wednesday of the month we gathered together in Hirosaki church to offer rosary and novena for our Blessed Mother. We have people who are assign to lead in the prayers and to help us in our mass.
After the mass, we ask the birthday celebrants of the month to come forward for blessing and prayer. Its an occasion too to know each other and to be able to be introduce to the community.
We end our gathering with a simple sharing at the church hall.
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| our birthday celebrants for the month |
A Sharing from Khristine of Aomori
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Good day everybody!
I'm Khristine g. Takahashi from Aomori Shi. I just want to share the wonderful feeling i felt last july 9,2014 when I attended the Filipino mass in Hirosaki church w/ father Garry, our kind-hearted @ well-dedicated Filipino priest who also happens to be my kababayan because we live in the same province back home in the Philippines.
Attending Filipino mass like this is a worthwhile @ priceless experience for us Filipinos here in Japan,who are longing to attend English or Tagalog mass where we can contemplate @ be w/ our kababayans.
Thanks God there's a priest like father Garry Gestoveo who whole-heartedly and willing share his knowledge,i nsights @ words of wisdom to us.
More power Father Garry you're the best!
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| Diep san and her husband with their baby Yuki chan |
Hachinohe Catholic Church
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| some of our choir member |
We have our Engish Mass every second Sunday of the month here. We are blessed with a good of singers who made our celebration alive.
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| our guitarist |
During the mass, we gathered the children together to have their first ever sunday school. We hope to continue the practice as we have two volunteers who are taking care of the children.
After the mass, Fr. Sato distributed the address of Sister Jeanne and Sister Mary asking us to send a greeting to them. Both sisters had been helping the community of the foreigners in the area and both had returned to Canada for good.
IWATE KEN
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Kuji Catholic Church Tagalog- Japanese Mass
With the invitation from our contact person in the area, she ask us to visit the Filipinas in there working place to meet and to talk with them and also to invite them for our mass. We came in Kuji at friday afternoon and went to the two places where the Filipinas are working. It was a nice way to be able to meet and talk with them.
We meet and prayed over to one of the Filipinas whose brother is one of those who were caught in the on going conflict in Surigao. We offered prayer for him and his family.
We are also able to visit the beach area in Kuji. I thought these was all destroyed by the tsunami, but am i surprised to see the beach in tack and beautiful.
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| with Fr. Sato and some members of the Kuji Church |
Ichinoseki Baptism
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| Fr. Sato of Ichinoseki Church during the baptism of the children |
I would like to congratulate the parents of the four children who had their baptism last July 13 in Ichinoseki Church. I just copy the post from ate Lolita Moniwa.
Maraming salamat sa lahat lahat na nag welcome sa apat na batang bininyagan this day 20014 7.13. Sa story po ng Ichinoseki Catholic Church unforgettable day po ang araw na Ito dahil ngayun lang po nangyari na may apat na anak ng Pilipina ang sabaysabay na bininyagan. Ang isang dahilan po kung bakit nag request ako sa mga mommy ng mga bata na sabaysabay ng gawin ang binyagan para maging masaya ang celebration at isang chance para nman magkasamasama tayong lahat. Napakasaya talaga ng araw na Ito .
Gusto ko pong pasalamatan ang mga parents na nagpabinyag Mr and Mrs Oikawa . Mr and Mrs Tanabe . Mr and Mrs Hatakeyam Mr and Mrs Sato Sa mga mkipagtulungan na nagluto ng masarap na pagkain sister Cedes Fujinami . Ms Rowena Endo nag luto dn sya. At yung ang gift nya sa mga bata halos wala kaming tulugan salamat sa mga food na dala ng mga nagpabinyag ninang Irish salamat sa masarap na fried chicken. Salamat din sa tatlong pinoy na tumulong sa pag prepare ng mga food at ballloon. Hanggang sa bandang huli di kami iniwan Ms Analiza Ms Nora . To all Japanese friend sa lahat lahat ng kaibigan mga ninong at Ninang Ms Offelia Takahashii naka habol pa sya .
Father Sato Hontoni arigatou .
Minasan hontoni arigatou
korekaramou yorushiku onegaishimasuGOD BLESS USLolita
Couples for Christ conducts CLP in Ofunato
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| the graduates - congratulations |
Couples for Christ - Japan conducted a CLP program in Ofunato Church last July 19 and 20. The team who came all the way from Tokyo gave the seminar for two days. The seminar was held in Furi Ai Land in Ofunato.
The CFC members gave the talk and introduced the group to CFC. The team also prepared the group for renewal and to make them realise their role as evangeliser. As evangelisers they take the message of Christianity and proclaim it anew so that those who can hear it can make a renewed commitment to the Lord which will allow them to receive a fuller experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Spiritual renewal works in three ways: 1. For the individual, it brings a person into a stronger relationship with God by discovering and living more fully the power and gifts he or she received through the Holy Spirit. 2. For the family, it brings married couples to a renewed commitment to Christian family Life and it starts to build up a community of committed Christian families. 3. For the Church, it brings people within a particular parish to a fuller experience of life in the Spirit. Consequently it strengthens and revitalizes community life in the parish. |
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| the CFC Team - thank you so much |
An Article from the CFC Team
Couples for Christ Christian
Life Program
Ofunato Church Iwate ken
Couples for Christ (CFC) is a Catholic movement intended for the renewal and
strengthening of Christian family life. Its vision:
FAMILIES IN THE HOLY SPIRIT RENEWING THE FACE OF
THE EARTH
Moved by the Holy Spirit, one with the Catholic Church, blessed to witness Christ’s love and service, Couples for Christ is a united global community of family evangelizers that set the world on fire with the fullness of God’s transforming love.
Moved by the Holy Spirit, one with the Catholic Church, blessed to witness Christ’s love and service, Couples for Christ is a united global community of family evangelizers that set the world on fire with the fullness of God’s transforming love.
Driven by this vision, we, CFC Japan from the areas of Tokyo,
Atsugi, Gunma, Tochigi and Saitama reached out to our brethren in Ofunato,
bringing the word of God through the CFC Christian Life Program (CLP).
With the help of Fr. Garry and Fr. Edgar, the first CLP in
Iwate Ken, Diocese of Sendai was conducted in Ofunato Church. It was an
overnight session held last July 19~20, 2014. Most of the participants were
women; 8 ladies were able to complete the 12 sessions.
During the whole gathering, we were able to listen to the participants`
sharing and we were moved to tears by their experiences and the hardships they faced
during the earthquake that happened on March 11th of 2011. Some of
them are still living the nightmare brought by that catastrophic devastation.
Their life may seem normal outside, but most of them are still hurting inside. We
thought we experienced the worst then, but hearing their sharing made us realize
that what we had was just a glimpse of what they had been through. In the end,
we were the ones inspired by them and not the other way around.
After the whole session, we heard positive results. Their
faith was strengthened, they learned to trust God with all their hearts and
they knew that apart from God, they can do nothing. They once lived their lives
distant from Him and the church, but now they believe that what had happen, happened
for a reason and is bringing them closer to Christ.
Motivated by what we experienced, we left Ofunato church with
enthusiasm and determination to bring Christ wherever and whenever we are called.
As our parish priest in Ashikaga once told us “Christ should not be contained
in the Church; go out and share Him to others.”
“For I am not ashamed of
the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to
everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans
1:16
May the love and peace of Christ be with us always!
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August 2
- Tagalog Mass - Shirakawa Catholic Church 13:00
August 3
- International Mass - Watari Catholic Church 11:00
- English/Tagalog Mass - Noda Machi Catholic Church 15:00
August 9
- Tagalog/Japanese Mass - Kuji Catholic Church 14:00
August 10
- English Mass - Hachinohe 13:00
August 16
- Tagalog Mass - Ichinoseki Catholic Church 14:00
August 17
- Japanese/International Mass - Ishinomaki Catholic Church 10:00
- Tagalog Mass - Minami San Riku 14:00
August 24
- English Mass - Iwaki Catholic Church 14:00
August 31
- Japanese Mass - Ishinomaki Catholic Church 10:00
- Tagalog Mass - Koriyama Catholic Church 15:00
