News from Maria Province (Japan)
On Sunday, October 30, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of Maria Province, the 50th anniversary of Sister Yuriko Saito's vows, and the 25th anniversary of Sister Kikuko Takahashi and Sister Motoko Takahashi's vows at Chofu Convent. After the Mass, officiated by Fr. Noriyuki Tamura, Leader of the Salesian Chofu Convent and Fr. Rapu Haruyama, Superior General, the sisters and associates had a celebratory luncheon. It was a day of blessing and grace. Congratulations to all!
Social Justice Network Committee
On Wednesday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m., a meeting of the Social Justice Networkers of Maria Province was held on Zoom. Sister Motoko Takahashi reported on the contents of the meeting held in Montreal this summer and discussed future initiatives of Maria Province. As a result, it was decided that each sister will work on what she can do based on Laudato Si'. Each Community Area Leader will distribute a sheet of initiatives, and we ask for your cooperation. I know that you have offered some prayers and sacrifices in the past but let us each work on what we can do, keeping in mind that "All of us together for the life of the world".
Announcements
On Saturday, December 3, we will celebrate the 100th birthday of Sister Kinuyo Anzai. This is the first 100th birthday celebration in Maria Province. Congratulations to Sister Kinuyo Anzai.
Exhibited in Canada
Poster for the 90th anniversary of C.N.D. mission to Japan, 60th anniversary of mission to Honduras (Central America), 50th anniversary of mission to Cameroon, 40th anniversary of canonization of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys.
CND Celebrates 90th Anniversary of Arrival in Japan
(11th Edition)
Rose Cauchon CND from "The Narrow Road to Japan: In the Footsteps of Marguerite Bourgeoys
In this issue, we present memories from the war by Sister Anna Saito.
When the war intensified, the Church recommended that the convent property be registered as parish property as soon as possible so that it would not be confiscated. It was a very complicated and tedious task, a burden to those of us not accustomed to it. But God always gives us the strength and talent to get through it, and so we were able to get it done. We, Japanese, like the foreigners, were placed under house arrest and had to report every time we went out. However, as our hearts grew stronger and stronger, we would go to confession or talk with the priest on the way to the church under the pretext that the water from the church well was cold and we had to go fetch it. Also, as Christmas approached, they had the children rehearse a play for the celebration, and other activities were relatively free. However, once that Sister Theresa Sasamori and Sister Angeline Ogata made a business trip to Yonezawa and reported it, they were banned from missionary work.
On one occasion, they decided to make a secret overnight train trip from Hachinohe to check on Sr. St. Marie Damas and Sr. St. Alphonse, who were under house arrest at the Society of Our Lady of the Assumption in Aomori. First, we went to visit the Japanese sisters who were living there isolated from the foreigners and consulted with that Congregation's sisters on how to visit them. However, since the chief priest of a nearby church had been asked by the police to keep an eye on me, I concluded that there was no way but to sneak in secretly, since even if I asked for a meeting, I might be refused. I entered the cathedral to pray, "God, please let me see the sisters. Just then, a priest was praying beside the altar. Fortunately, I did not know the priest, and I thought that he would not be able to recognize me in my monkshood. I tried to break into the house. The joy of the sisters at that time was beyond expression, and we talked for a long time. During the conversation, it was time for the policemen and priests to make their rounds. I was quick to hide in a closet, but unaware of this, the policeman passed by, calling out to one room and another room at a time…
Perhaps trying to smooth relations between the police and the Church, the Japanese priests insisted that we Japanese join the Japanese Congregation. The ties that bound us to the Congregation de Notre Dame were subjected to a storm of trials. But I let him postpone it until he could put an end to his clerical duties as acting rector, which the church had entrusted to me.
In the meantime, the bishop finally sent out a circular requesting that Japanese people join the Japanese Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. We were shocked, and the rector sent me to Sendai to question whether or not I should be obedient. When the bishop answered, "You don't have to obey," both he and we were relieved. We felt that this was a sign that God was requesting us as His instruments, and although we were being swayed by the waves, the threads of our hearts that bound us to the congregation grew thicker and we felt ourselves being drawn closer together.