February 2013 Newsletter

For Our Reflection

image courtesy of creative communication

Faith in Action

Strengthen the Bond

The Second group of the home helper group had there graduation and thanksgiving ceremony last Dec. 20 in Ofunato Catholic Church. 

The group is compose of 3 Filipinas, Two Indonesians, a Chinese and Korean  who are staying in Ryori Cho, a small fishing community in Ofunato, Iwate Ken. Together they help each other after the disaster of March 11, 2011. They bond each other, sharing what they have during the disaster in order to survive. 

The bond that was formed become stronger when they start to study together to become home helper.  With the support of the volunteers from Caritas Sendai Support Center for Foreigners, they were able to receive their certificate of completion as home helper. 

a scrapbook of their journey - indeed a special gift

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

Baptism in Minami san Riku 

After months of preparation, 8 children were baptized in Minami San Riku last Jan 3 this year. We are indeed blessed this year as we start with the baptism of these children. We are hope to strengthen the faith of these children as they are preparing for their first communion.  

congratulations to our newly baptised children and their family

Fr. Harnoko blessing the children

Fr. Aizu doing the baptism 

Baptism in Iwaki Catholic Church

Another baptism was also done in Iwaki Catholic Church. Shintaro Takahara san, 3 years old had his baptism during our English mass. He was surrounded by his supportive god parents and his family. 

Shintaro kun sorounded by his mother and his god parents

fr. Garry doing the rite of baptism

Introduction of Communities

Sukagawa Catholic Church

We celebrate mass in Sukugawa Catholic Church during the fourth Sunday of the month. The church was destroyed last March 11 earthquake and we are using the community center to gather ans celebrate the mass together. Although its a small community, we are always welcome warmly by the Filipinos and Japanese christians. Our mass is in Japanese but we have the homily in both Japanese and English or Tagalog.


Hachinohe Catholic Church

From January of this year we will be celebrating English mass every second Sunday of the month in Hachinohe Catholic church at 2 pm in the afternoon. Every sunday the group have their own gathering celebrating the liturgy of the word together with Sis. Mary. But sister had been hospitalized for some months now,  so Fr. Yokojima their parish priest contacted us if we can celebrate a mass once a month with them. We readily agreed we had our first english mass last Jan. 13 with them.

Schedule of Masses and Activities for February 2013

Feb. 2

• Ofunato Catholic Church - 11 am Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Rikuzen Takata - 2 pm Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Shirakawa Community - Block Rosary

Feb. 3

• Kesennuma Catholic Church -  2 pm Tagalog Mass - Fr. Garry
• Mizusawa Catholic Church - 2 pm International Mass - Fr. Harnoko

Feb. 6

• Fukushima Hawak Kamay -  6 pm English Mass - Fr. Garry

Feb. 9

• Ofunato Catholic Church - 11 am Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Rikuzen Takata - 2 pm Block Rosary and Bible Sharing

Feb. 10

• Hachinohe Catholic Church - 1 pm Tagalog Mass - Fr. Garry

Feb. 13

• Ash Wednesday

Feb. 16

• Ofunato Catholic Church - 11 am Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Rikuzen Takata - 2 pm Block Rosary and Bible Sharing

Feb. 17

• Ishinomaki Catholic Church- 10 am International Mass - Fr. Harnoko
• Minami san Riku - 2 pm Tagalog Mass - Fr. Harnoko
• Ofunato Catholic Church - 1 pm Tagalog Mass - Fr. Garry
• PAG ASA First General Assembly - Ofunato Catholic Church 

Feb. 23

• Ofunato Catholic Church - 11 am Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Rikuzen Takata - 2 pm Block Rosary and Bible Sharing
• Watari Catholic Church - 10 am Tagalog Mass - Fr. Harnoko
• Koriyama Catholic Church - 5 pm English Mass - Fr. Harnoko

Feb. 24

• Shirakawa Catholic Church - 9:30 am International Mass - Fr. Garry
• Sukugawa Catholic Church - 2 pm International Mass - Fr. Garry
• Iwaki Catholic Church - 2 pm English Mass - Fr. Harnoko

A Lenten Reflection

Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.

Give up pessimism——become an optimist.

Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.

Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.

Give up discouragement——be full of hope.

Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.

Give up hatred——return good for evil.

Give up negativism——be positive.

Give up anger——be more patient.

Give up pettiness——become mature.

Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.

Give up jealousy——pray for trust.

Give up gossiping——control your tongue.

Give up sin——turn to virtue.

Give up giving up——hang in there!

 

 www.appleseeds.org/lent-reflect