Sendai Diocese Support Center for Foreigners (仙台教区滞日外国人支援センター） : April 2013 Newsletter

For Our Reflection

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

This day is a great occasion. It is the celebration of all celebrations, the feast of all feasts, the centerpiece of the Church year. There is much to feel good and joyful about this day. Our Lenten observance has come to an end and we can finally proclaim, “Alleluia, Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!”

Easter celebrate the victory of light over darkness, of life over death. We join Christ in passover, as we renew the baptism and receive the baptism. This celebration is a continuation of showing Christ power on each one of us so as we are strengthened and renewed in our faith life. We are again guided to re enter the Way of Christ on Easter as we journey to the fulness of our life of faith in Him.

Praise God for bringing out life in death, for bringing out light out of darkness, for bringing hope out of disaster, newness out of stale.
Praise Christ!!!
Alleluia.

FAITH IN ACTION

First Communion Celebration

Eight children had their first communion last March 31 during the Easter celebration mass. Sister Uchida, a salesian sister, had helped in their preparation for this event. Sister Uchida who came all the way from Tokyo once a month to have a sunday school for the children during our Tagalog mass in Ofunato was very happy herself for the children.
As the children receives Christ on this wonderful day, we pray that they will deepen their faith and put importance to the celebrating the mass. Congratulation to all of you and thank you Sister Uchida for your unending support for the children here in Ofunato Church.

March 11 Commemoration Activities and Recollection

Fukushima Area - Shirakawa Church

March 24, we wrap up the commemoration activities of March 11 commemoration and prayer service with a Palm Sunday celebration in Shirakawa church. This was attended by some 30 Filipinos from the Fukushima Shi, Koriyama, Sukagawa and Shirakawa churches.
We started with a talk on Lent and end with the re interpretation of their experiences of March 11 using the story of Emmaus (Luke 24 ). Erlyn from CTIC gave the introduction to set the mood for the event. After the sessions, we prepare for the Mass, Fr. Harnoko lead us to the celebration. Since it was also Palm Sunday, we blessed the palm before starting the mass. As a start of the Holy Week, we encourage each one to give importance to this once a year event. We hope that we will not let this week pass without trying to observe its holiness.

From Thess Blas Aguirre on her facebook wall

"I would like to Thank to all who attending the Mass last Sunday and to our Facilitator Father Antonius Haru and Father Garry Gestoveo without them walang iyakan at tawanan and also to CTIC ate Marilou Canlas Okuyama and ate Erlyn Regondon who gave us a touching and an inspirational talk ,and spiritual motivation and also to our special visitors Kaye Doria, Frank Ocampos, Yukio Yamaguchi, Kate Renn Castro, for spending your time and gave us some information . We really appreciate all you have done and for taking your time to visit us. Hoping that this is not the last and we looking forward to repeat this again some time soon. We would love to see you all again..You have always been an Inspiration to us and Thank you for Guiding and Supporting us always here in Shirakawa We Hope that nabusog at napasaya nmin kayo sa aming munting salo salong naihanda . Kasi kayo di lamang nyo kami binusog Physically but most of all Spiritually and Mentally ... Again Thank you and to all my colleagues who are always there sabi nga ni maya Kapit bisig ganyan kami d2 sa aming samahan., Thank you guys !!! Have a Bless Holy Thursday !!!"

fellowship with the participants

one in praying to the Father

Home Helper Follow Up

attentively listening to each other

After almost half year when we start the home helper program, those who finished their studies had started to work in the different home for the Aged here in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata. The thought of gathering them for sharing and follow up of their situation was of our concern. Last March 26, three of our home helper graduates and are already working had gather to share together their experiences. Their difficulties and their happiness rolled in one as they start to adjust to the work. Sarah Kinno and Jocelyn Sumigama who work together said that they draw strength from each other. Although the work is quite difficult, the support of the staff and the acceptance of the elderly with both of them had made them feel happy with their work. Saito Mayo san who works in another home for the elderly, felt that she is working to much. But she said, she will not just give up after all the struggles with studies to get the license as care giver. She felt very happy that what she learned during the studies are now being use in her work. Although there are this so much to learn. She looks forward for gathering like this so that she can share her stories to others who understands her situation.

We plan to have a monthly follow up and we hope to strengthen each other with our sharing.

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外国人の司牧これから

Sendai Support Center for Foreigners - Our Future Movements

仙台教区滞日外国人支援センターは東日本大震災で被害を受けた滞日外国人の方々に必要な生活支援を行うため、被災地にある教会やベースなどとの協力し、みんなと共に歩むことによって、適切な復興に向かっていけるよう支援し、海外からきた兄弟姉妹が日本社会の中で暮らしやすい環境を造ることができるように活動しています。

外国語ミサは外国人の多い仙台、盛岡、八戸、福島、郡山、いわきが以前からあり、現在、仙台教区滞日外国人支援センターでは２人の司祭が岩手（大船渡、北上、水沢、釜石）・宮城（気仙沼、南三陸、米川、石巻、一ノ関、亘理）・青森（大湊、五戸、十和田、弘前、八戸）・福島（白河、須賀川、郡山、いわき、野田町）の各教会へ月に１回、手分けをしてタガログ語あるいはインターナショナルミサをするために行っています。

しかし、今後の外国人司牧の継続性を考えていくと、移動距離もさることながら、やはり各地区の司祭の協力を得ながら、日本人信徒と共にミサを行っていく必要があるのではないかということに気付きました。

今の問題は、月に１度のミサに外国人の親が参加していても子供は日本語でないと理解できず、幼児洗礼で受けていたとしても、ミサに預からず、遊んでいることがほとんどです。また、日本語ミサの理解が難しい外国人の親がミサに参加しなければ、子供も参加しません。

今後、各地区の司祭と連携して、少しずつ日本語ミサの中にいろいろ取り込んでやっていくなど、小教区と一緒にやっていくことができれば、そこの信者さんとのつながりもでき、共同体としてより強いものになると思います。掃除当番や教会維持費など細かい問題はたくさん出てくると思いますが、まずはゆっくりと時間をかけて日本人信徒と外国人信徒が歩み寄る必要があるのではないでしょうか？

今まで教会に行けず、クリスマスやイースターのたびにカテドラルまで行っていた外国人信徒の方々も地元の教会につながることができれば、わざわざ遠くまで行かなくても済みます。外国人信徒の中には運転免許を持っていない方もたくさんおられ、日本人の家族に休みの日に遠くの教会まで送ってもらうことに気を使っておられる方もいるそうです。

大船渡教会では震災後、フィリピンのお母さんたちが教会に来てくれるようになり、信者数は倍増、少しずつ教会の行事にも一緒に参加してくれています。日本語ミサでタガログ語の主の祈りを歌い、日本人信徒と外国人信徒の歩み寄りが見て取れます。お母さんに連れられてくる小さな子供も日本語の讃美歌だけでなく母親の母語のタガログ語の主の祈りを歌っていたり、ミサ中、司祭の言う言葉を真似して言ってみたりする様子を見ると未来は明るい！と感じます。今後、日本の高齢化が進むにつれて日本の教会内も小さな子供さんがいる外国人信徒と共に歩んでいくことは、これからの教会にとって大きな力になることは確かです。

by Aiko Hayashi san
Staff - Sendai Support Center for Foreigners

Sukagawa Community with Fr. Tanaka

Ofunato Church

Fr. Morita and Fr. Edgar during one of our block rosary

taking picture with our parish priest Fr. Morita

our first gathering as foreigners in Sendai Diocese in Fukushima

we are indeed surrounded by angels. Sei Kun and Shoto kun in our rosary

From April 2013, Aiko Hayashi and Fr. Garry Gestoveo will be doing the work for the Sendai Diocese Support Center for Foreigners. Fr. Harnoko will be assigned as Parish Priest of Ofunato and Kamaishi Churches.

Introduction of Communities

Hirosaki Church - Aomori Ken

We started to visit Hirosaki church last year after we met the group in Morioka for the Iwate Gathering of the Christian in Morioka city. The leaders talk to us and ask if we can celebrate mass with. We told them to talk with their parish priest and inform us if they have the permission.
They decided to have monthly masses on the first Wednesday of the month. We start with novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary and end with the mass. Here`s the letter of Angie Naorumi, one of the leaders of the Hirosaki community.

Ako po si ANGI NARUMI dito po sa AOMORI HIROSAKI SHI HIYA KOKU MACHI KOGI (HIROSAKI CATHOLIC CHURCH) kami ay nagagalak na nagkaroon kami ng maliit na community.

Sa first Wednesday meron po kaming rosary, novena sa Mother of Perpetual Help at every Sunday naman po ay Japanese. Napakalaking tulong po nito dahil dito rin po naguumpisa ang aming pagkakaisa ang aming mga kababayan. Sana ay maipagpatuloy po namin ang aming gawaing ito.

Maraming salamat po kina father Gabriel, father Gary at father Haru na sila po ay handang pumunta dito para sa aming misa tagalog. Maraming salamat po, nawa`y bigyan pa po kami ng Mahal na Panginoon ng lakas at kaalaman para maipagpatuloy pa namin ang gawain na ito....maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat....MAY THE LORD Bless us ALL.

Happy Easter From the Different Communities