March 2014

For Our Reflection

My Winter Reflection

The news of heavy snow had affected our activities, but we rather choose our safety than to go out there and be struck in a snowy road. People were complaining that they are tired and sick of the snow, they shoveling and cleaning everyday made them sick of seeing the snow. Some even prayed to stop the snow.


I have to say that while the snow is falling, it's amazing but once the snow is piled up to 2-3 meters, you begin to panic  and if you are driving  you begin to imagine you might be trapped or will not be able to move.


The whole experience reminds me of how hard life can be. There is a certain perseverance one has to have to make it through the relentless days of winter - the same thing can be said for any life's problems.


Instead of falling into the insipidness of winter, I am trying to accept it for what is it. The same holds true for the problems I have in my life - some things you just have to accept and wait for solution to present itself.   I have to trust in God’s plan for me and his timeline, not mine. 


It may not make the winter any warmer, but perhaps it will make it more bearable.

FAITH IN ACTION

News From Tacloban and Cebu

Last month we received a news from Sister Nari about the situation in Tacloban. She sends us picture of the children with a thank you message for the school supplies and the school uniforms they received.  Sister Nari is helping an elementary school in Tacloban that was washed out by the typhoon. Our March charity concert will be for the benefit of these children especially for their school uniforms because after the typhoon the children lost all their belongings.  We hope for your full support for our up coming charity concert here in Ofunato. 

In Cebu, I received a message from Fr. Fernold Denna, CICM, president of St. Louis School of Mandaue in Cebu that they received 9 boxes of goods from Japan. Here is Fr. Fernold's message;

"Hello Garry! Just to inform you that the boxes you sent to Francis Kupang through SLC-C arrived some days ago. Kupang entrusted the distribution to the typhoon hit areas to us. We will facilitate its reaching the intended recepients:the typhoon victims in North Cebu. we will update you later. Meanwhile, our sincere thanks to your generous parishioners and friends in Japan. Please relay the info to Gerry or Harnoko. Regards and ingat." 

a heartwarming message from one of pupils in Tacloban

IWATE KEN

Mass in Mizusawa

Fr. Edgar celebrated the mass in Mizuwasa last Feb. 2.  Father Edgar will be helping us for our masses here in the area.

He said he was impressed by the choir of Mizusawa church. They sing very well and have a good blending in their singing. He was especially impressed when the group sang "May Bukas pa" during the communion.


Block Rosary in Rikuzen Takata

Fr. Edgar attended the February block rosary in Takata. Every first saturday they move the rosary from one house to another. After the rosary Fr. Edgar guided the group to a sharing and a short catechism. We hope that we will continue the practice and little by little be able to deepen our faith.

repeat performance after the rosary

Kuji Mass

The news on heavy snow did not prevent me from going to kuji to celebrate the Tagalog mass this. I have been looking forward to meet the group.


I was met by the Japanese Christians when I arrived. Fr Sato was also there. Then there were three Filipinos who arrived and we did some practice for our songs and to assign the readers.


I feel that they too are excited to celebrate the Tagalog mass.
And since there were Japanese in the group I tried to give my homily in Japanese and Tagalog .
They said there are 60 Filipinos in kuji area. And they will inform them from now on that we will have a regular Tagalog masses every second Saturday of the month.






FUKUSHIMA KEN

Shirakawa Block Rosary and Tagalog mass

Every first saturday the Shirakawa community meet together for a mass and block rosary. 
Last Feb. 1 Fr. Harnoko visited the community and celebrated mass with them in Shirakawa church then after that they brought the Statue of the Virgin Mary to the house of Kim san and the group offered the rosary.
Sisters Margarete and Marcy  from Yokohama also were present.
They helped in the faith formation of the group.

Iwaki Mass

After the mass in, we had a simple gathering in the church hall. I noticed one man who was not during our mass. So I ask him where he is coming from and he told me that he was with Juliet and that he is a seafarer. He was the only one who was able to come to the church since the other companions have work.

I ask him where he is in the Philippines and he said Tacloban. So I ask him how is his family. He told me that they lost their house but the family members are all safe. He told me that he wanted to go home after the typhoon to see his family but his contract is not yet finished and leaving early before his contract will finish will entail a penalty. So he decided to stay until he will finished his contract and go home.

After our simple gathering, the Iwaki Community gave him a support money for his family in the Philippines.

We ask you to pray for our people in the Philippines who are still suffering after the typhoon. We hope that we always remember them, pray for them and support them.





MIYAGI KEN

Fr. Haru Celebrated Mass in Watari Church

Fr. Harnoko celebrated the mass in Watari Church last Feb. 22.  There were around fifteen Filipinos and Japanese Christians who gathered together for the mass. After the mass, there was a simple thanksgiving party for Fr. Harnoko.
Fr. Harnoko with Fr. Jose also prepared those children for baptism. We have three children baptism by March in Watari Church.





Indonesian Mass in Sendai

with Indonesian students in Sendai

Fr. Harnoko celebrated the mass with the Indonesian group in Sendai last Feb. 23 in Motodera Church. Fr. Insen joined Fr. Harnoko in order to introduce him to the group and for the continuity of the mass for the Indonesian in Sendai from now on.



AOMORI KEN

Thank You so Much for Singing in our Mass

Mass in Hachinohe

The heavy snow did not dampened the spirit of our kababayans to celebrate the mass together in hachinohe. The snow was so heavy I could not recognised the city. I  lost my way, and was moving around the area of the church until I recognise the convenience store. Thank God I safely arrived for the mass. We waited for some members of our choir and started our mass at 1:30 in the afternoon.


After the mass, we gave a chance for some members of our choir who is going back to give s short message because some of them had finished their contract with Tokyo Dress. There were 6 of them. They thank the group for the welcome they received while the were in Hachinohe. In return we also thank them for the services they offered in our masses here in Hachinohe. 

thank you so much

Introducing Japanese Culture

February Festival and Practices in Japan

http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia34/images/feature/09_01.jpg

February 3: 節分 (Setsubun, "Bean-Throwing Ceremony")

Literally the the "seasonal divide", spring setsubun is also called risshun (立春) and part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri). Japanese perform a ritual called mamemaki (豆まき, "bean-throwing"), conducted at people's homes or in temples and shrines in order to expel evil spirits and disease by throwing beans outside their house and exclaiming: 鬼は外! 福は内! (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!), which translates as "Demons out, luck in!" The number of beans thrown (and subsequently eaten) usually corresponds to a person's age.

http://jasgp.org/sites/default/files/images/valentines%20exchange.jpg

February 14: バレンタインデー (Valentine's Day)

Introduced in Japan in 1936 and popularized in the 1950s, it is the day when Japanese women offer chocolate to men. Giri-choko (義理チョコ) is given by female employees to their male counterparts (giri 義理 meaning "obligation"), while tomo-choko (友チョコ) and honmei-choko (本命チョコ) is reserved for friends, respectively boyfriends and husbands. Men have to reciprocate twice or thrice (三倍返し, sanbai gaeshi, literally, "triple the return") what they have received one moth later, on White Day.


http://www.jref.com/japan/culture/japanese_holidays.shtml



MARCH 5 is Ash Wednesday

EVENTS

Here are the poster for our upcoming Charity Concert here in Ofunato. We are inviting everyone to come and support this concert. This is for the benefit of Yolanda victims. For further information please call the Sendai Support Center for Foreigners - 090-5666-1747

This is also a commemoration event of 3.11 disaster. 

3.11 Anniversary Memorial Masses

Ofunato Church with Bishop Suwa of Takamatsu Diocese @13:30

Kamaishi Church with Bishop Otsuka of Kyoto Diocese @13:30

Miyako Church with Bishop Hiraga of Sendai Diocese

Please join in the commemoration masses and prayers in your areas or offer you own personal prayers for the victims of the disaster. Pause whatever you are doing at 14:46 on March 11. Believe me you prayers and thoughts will support and continue to uplift the spirit of the people here in Tohoku.

February 2014

For Our Reflection


Sharing our GIFTS

A Reflection on Mark 4: 21-25


Are the gifts that God has given you meant to be kept for yourself (i.e., hidden)? Every good gift that you've received – your talents, your hard-earned money, your wisdom, your home, etc. – is a beam of the light of Christ trying to shine outward from you.


Why do we sometimes hide our gifts? It's because we think they're not enough – not good enough, not ready enough, or not humble enough to show them to others and let them shine.

We are treasure chests full of gifts! To share these treasures requires exposing ourselves, opening up the lid and letting others look inside to pick up and use the gifts that could benefit them. Does the thought of that make you feel too vulnerable?

We cannot do much for the kingdom of God without exposing what we naturally want to protect. Jesus exposed his back to the scourging whips, his head to thorns, and his body to the pain of the cross, because he loves you! Are you willing to expose his presence within you by sharing your gifts so that others may discover that Jesus loves them, too?

Exposing the light in us means sharing our gifts even when it's inconvenient. It means offering our gifts to others even when it results in rejection and ridicule. It means that when we get hurt for openly sharing ourselves, instead of closing up and running away, we choose to become stronger in loving others unconditionally.

When we share our giftedness, we share Jesus. One of the greatest gifts we receive is the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and when we let others experience his true presence within us, we become Eucharist for them.


for more daily and sunday reflection subscribe to:

http://gnm.org/index.html




Faith in Action

Ofunato Base Celebrated it Second Anniversary

Last January 13, the Ofunato base marked its second anniversary. Bishop Matsuura Goro, Auxiliary of the Diocese of Osaka celebrated the thanksgiving mass in Ofunato Church. Fathers Matsumura, Haruna Harnoko and Garry concelebrated in the mass.

The Bishop offered the mass for  recovery and for strengthening the bond of unity among the people who work for the recovery of people in the disaster areas. The bishop also told a story of the little boy who was playing with a ball and while chasing the ball he fell down, then came child who fell down beside him and ask him can we get up together? The story reflects on how are we going to work together with people who are in the disaster areas, we never pull their hands to get up, we never ask them unnecessary questions, but we just stay with them, fell with them and support them if they start to stand and together we walk with them.

After the mass Fr. Harnoko introduced the priest from Osaka Fr. Haruna and Fr. Matsumura and they introduced themselves to the community. Then we moved together to the base to celebrate the second anniversary with the Christians and some people who are from the nearest temporary housing.

In the evening, we had a nabe party with the local people in the area especially those from the Hakkengai, the different NPO who are working in Ofunato and some Christians who also attended the evening party.

with the people from the Temporary housing

with the hakkengai and the NPOs working in Ofunato

IWATE

First Block Rosary in Rikuzen Takata for 2014

January 11 on the second Saturday of the month the Ofunato group gathered together in the Church to pray and offer the rosary. After the rosary we have our usual lunch together, Hana cooked my favourite ginuguan and Terry cooked a hot soup (chicken sotanghon).

After the meal, we went to Amy`s house in Takata to have the  rosary and the moving our of the statue of the Mother Mary to a new house. There were around 15 if us including the children who pray together the rosary. After the prayer we had a simple fellowship and we move the statue of the Blessed Virgin to Angie`s house.

In Ofunato, we did our first rosary of the year at first satruday of the month. It was also Ms. Rose Sasakis birthday and after the prayer we went out to eat together to celebrate her birthday and thanksgiving.

Miyako Catholic Church

Fr. Harnoko celebrated the mass in Miyako church on the third saturday of the month. He came to visit Emmie to help her in sending some boxes of relief goods of the typhoon victims in the Philippines. That day Fr. Sato brought with some some Filipinos who are living in Kuji Cho and they celebrated the mass together in Miyako church. Fr. Sato told us that there are quit a number of Filipinos in the area and that in the future maybe we can celebrate mass with them there.  Am glad that Fr. Sato brought them together in Miyako and we will try our best to  celebrate a regular mass with the community.



AOMORI

Hachinohe Mass

Last Jan. 12, I celebrated the mass in Hachinohe Community.  There around 50 of us who are gathered for the mass. Although it was snowing and it was freezing we made it in time for the mass that day. It also marks our first mass of the year and we hope and pray that we will be strengthen and blessed together as we welcome the new year.
The community is always blessed to have a guitarist and a choir group who lead in the mass, but i heard the some people will be going home next month since they finished their contracts in the company and one of them is our guitarist. We are somehow sad about the news but we know God will provide us with another.
After the mass, most of us left early due to the fear of heavy snow.  I also left early since I took the train from Ichinoseki to Hachinohe.





FUKUSHIMA


Onnahama Mass

Fr. Harnoko celebrated the mass in Onnahama Church. There were also seafarers who came to the mass, thanks to Thelma for the time and taking them from their ship to the church. Its really of great help for the seafarers who have little chance to join in masses in the port where they are docked for some days.


Iwaki Mass

with the parish council of Iwaki and the Parish Priest

We had our mass in Iwaki church this month. Although we were very few we were able to make a good preparation for our mass. We have a wonderful choir who is always there to make our mass lively.

Before the mass, i met the council president of Iwaki Church. They gave their donation for the project of Fr. Resty, CS in the Philippines who is helping in building a temporary house for the people in Tacloban who lost their houses in the typhoon Yolanda last year.



Shirakawa and Sukagawa Mass

Fr. Harnoko celebrated the mass in Shirakawa Church and Sukagawa for this month. Normally we celebrate a Japanese mass and the group were ask to read in English one of the readings for the day, offer the prayers and sing one or two songs in the mass. Indeed the community are one in celebrating the mass.

Noda Machi Mass

We had our mass after some months since i was not able schedule properly the mass in this area.  After talking with the leaders we decided to have our mass at 3 pm last Feb. 2 in Noda Machi church. I came from Tokyo for a meeting and pass by Fukushima to celebrate the mass with the group. I am able to meet the groups former leader Ms. Kaye and we had a some small talk for some plans.
During the mass, there were around 20 of us who gathered for the celebration.


MIYAGI KEN

Ishinomaki Church Mass

On the third sunday of the month we have masses at Ishinomaki. This mass is in Japanese and I give my sharing in Tagalog and Japanese. This is our first mass for the year and I am very happy to see many Filipinos who attended the mass this day.


Watari Church Mass

We had our mass on the fourth saturday of the month in this community. Fr. Jose is always there to support the group during the mass. After the mass during our fellowship, one of those who attended the mass for the first time, asked for the baptism of her baby. With Fr. Jose who is present that time, I ask the group to first tell their parish priest for the planned baptism.

Ichinoseki Catholic Church

On the third Satruday of the month we celebrated the mass in Ichinoseki church. We were lucky to have the trainees who are working in Senmanya who attended our mass that day. The choir from Mizusawa church also came to helped us in the singing during our mass.

Minami San Riku Mass on the Feast of Sto. Nino

Every third sunday of the month we gather together in the temporary shelter of Amelia Sasaki in Minami san Riku for our sunday mass.
We celebrated together the feast of Santo Nino and also pray together to welcome the new year.  We were very few due to the heavy snow so some of our members could not make it to our celebration. But we were very happy because Fathers Aizu and Kawasaki were there to be with us in our celebrations. What made this mass also special are the songs prepared by the group. Jojo and Aiko san made a good accompaniment with the guitar in our singing for the mass.
As usual after the mass, each member bought their own speciality and we shared them together. Minami san Riku is also special because during our gathering we could not miss the chance to share our ghost stories,  and  I am surprised myself that Fr. Aizu too have his own experiences in Iahinomaki Kindergarten school where the speaker of the sound system in the auditorium will just suddenly make a sound? Creepy but he said, maybe they did not know that they are dead. So they were just playing with us. But Fr. Aizu told us that we should never stop praying for those people and that we hope that those who are still missing will be returned to their families.





Report of Donation for Yolanda Victims

Donation for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda

Financial Report (Nov.2013 ~ Jan.2014)

Sendai Support Center for Foreigners

 (In Japanese Yen)

Date	From	Income	Expenses
Nov. 20	Matsubara parishioner	60,000
Nov. 22	Sent to CTIC (c/o Fr. Resty)		60,000
	Senboku parishioner	5,000
Dec. 8	visitor	5,000
	Pag-Asa Iwate	14,112
	Pag-Asa Iwate children	7,649
	Ryori group	17,702
Dec. 15	Pag-Asa Iwate	10,000
	Ichinoseki Fil.com	20,537
	Sent to Caritas Japan		80,000
Jan. 21	Matsubara parishioner	10,000
	visitor	1,000
Jan. 22	Relief goods sending fare		11,000
T O T A L		151,000	151,000

Introduction to Japanese Culture

Winter is a busy travel season in Japan. If you are planning to visit Japan this holiday season, it’s wise to make train reservations in advance. Here are the winter-season Japanese holidays.

New Year (January 1) 

The New Year ((お正月) is the most important of all Japanese holidays. The entire country shuts down from December 30 to January 3. Oshogatsu (New Year) is often celebrated with bonenkai (year-forgetting) parties to leave the old year’s troubles and worries behind. A widely practiced Japanese custom is to prepare toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) on New Year’s Eve to represent longevity. The sending of New Year’s cards is a very popular practice among the Japanese.

Seijin no Hi (January 10)

Seijin no Hi (成人の日 , Coming of Age Day) welcomes individuals who have reached the age of majority (20 years) over the past year and encourage their roles as adults in society. Ceremonies are usually held at the prefectural and local offices, and family and friends host after-parties.

- See more at: http://www.kcpstudentlife.com/festivals/winter/#sthash.lMIVBzgw.dpuf

January 2014

For Our Reflection

http://www.happyquotesworld.com/2012/11/5-rules-to-live-happier-life.html

While writing an article for our newsletter I happen to saw this picture on five Rules to live a Happier life. I told myself maybe I could use this to help us in our reflection for this new year.
The picture which is showing a hand in counting position from one to five gives the five rules to live a happier life. 
1. Love yourself
2. Do Good
3.Always forgive
4. Harm no one
5. Be positive
As we start the new year, we always hope that we will be blessed and will be happy. We can be happier only if we start with something positive within ourselves. I believe that the rules above will give us a clue on living a happier life.  Maybe if we start to follow these rules we will be sharing not only happiness but peace to one another.

Happy New Year  Everbody







Congratulations Thess and Ed 

"This is it, Finally my dream come true ...Our Wedding day at Shirakawa Catholic Church .,Dec.7,2013 ..A Beginning for a new chapter of my life.."

Congratulation to Thess and Kuya Ed on their wedding in Shirakawa Church. Fathers Harnoko and Takana officiated the mass. When i had my mass last time in Shirakawa, they were already talking about the wedding plans but have not decided for that date. Am very glad that Fr. Harnoko and Fr. Tanaka were available for their wedding.  The community were together to pray and celebrate with Thess and Ed on this special day.

Osaka University Student Home Stay in Ofunato and Rikuzen Takata

HOMESTAY FROM OSAKA It was last December 21 , when college students from Osaka, homestayed with us. Their purpose was to study the dedication and hardship of Kokkusai Kekkon. Six students arrived from Osaka . Three members stayed in Takata and three stayed in Ofunato. As for Takata, according to them, they enjoyed staying in Rosemarie Miura's apartment, Christine Sasaki's house and Rosalinda Nakanome's Kasetsu.Sharing their time with the children was very memorable. I think specially to Megumi Hara San , because she had a hardtime leaving Rosalinda's daughter. Actually, she and her friend extended her stay here 'til our christmas party. She joined the dance rehearsal that was performed last Dec. 24. 

Megumi san joining sa dance during the Christmas presentation

By: Marife Sugawara





Ofunato Church Christmas Party

Last Dec. 15. Sister Uchida together with the two other sister celebrated a Christmas party for the children in Ofunato. After the mass the children gathered in the Kindergarten hall for their Christmas party. There were around 30 children who were gather together. I ask Rose Marie Miura what happened and she wrote me this

"last dec 15 start cla sa prayers,games(card&bingo) then kainan after that may slide show shoe maker na ojisan nanaginip na nagpakita si Jesus sa kanya. Parang sinubukan yun ojisan kung tutulungan nya yung mga nangangailangan. Yung mga bata serious sa panonood. After that nag prayer at kumanta ng Christmas songs then nagbigay si Fr. Haru gift for Sis. Uchida. Si Sis. Uchida naman nagbigay ng gift sa mga bata minna yorokonda."

It was indeed a joyful gathering of the children in Ofunato Church and we hope to continue the tradition.   

Hachinohe Mass and Baptism

Last Dec. 7 Fr. Haru celebrated the mass in Hachinohe and baptism.  It was indeed a good way to celebrate Christmas together and baptism in the community.  Fr. Sato concelebrated in the mass which was attended by around 50 Filipinos and Japanese. 

Christmas Celebration and Charity Concert for Yolanda Victims in Shinjo Catholic Church

I had a a chance to meet the Filipinos in Shinjo Catholic Church and was able to celebrate mass with them.  I am very happy they most of the people in the Church were Filipinos who are managing the church.  I also got to meet some trainees in the area who are working in Hitachi company. They were the first group of trainees sent in the area. Three of them were helping ni the Church for the choir and some errands.

After the mass there was a charity concert for the victims of typhoon in the Philippines. According to Fr. Honma there were nine Filipinos whose family are in Tacloban and had lost their houses. 





大船渡教会の子供たち

Christmas Celebrations in the Community

I randomly selected some pictures of the Christmas celebrations in different community. Here are some of them;


Iwaki Catholic Church

Hirosaki Community

Hawak Kamay Christmas Party

Kessenuma Christmas Party

I hope we had a joyful Christmas celebration and we hope the the new year will bring more blessing to each and everyone of us. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR