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The province of Japan celebrates one hundred years of life - Introduction |
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31 Jan 08 |
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Page 2 of 4
Promptly on time at 2:00 pm, our Centenary Mass began with a solemn
procession of 17 priests, each called out by name. After they were
seated round the altar, the students of the International School played
a beautiful string quartet. At the offertory, the representatives of
each RSCJ community offered a symbol, from the youngest candidate to
the eldest, sister Miyoshi who was born in 1908, and who offered the
Constitutions of the Society in Japanese. At the end there was an
exchange of candle lightning as the symbol of tradition passing from
the elder sister to the youngest one.
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Choir of graduates, Sr. Ohashi, organist
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After praising the Lord with heartfelt singing of hymns during the
mass, all the priests were seated in the stalls, and we watched a
PowerPoint presentation, “A Commemoration of the Centenary of the
Arrival of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Japan”-a short history of the
Province of Japan.
(r: the Archbishop Okada of Tokyo, Sr.Tajima, Sr.Satomi )
We could taste and enjoy this presentation with one mind and heart.
Finally Sr. Koko Nagano, Provincial of Japan gave a wonderful closing
speech.
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| Sr. Nagano reminded us that “Just as a person who becomes 100 years old
lives according to his or her age, so during our 100 years in Japan we
have learned to trust in the invisible work of God, which is far above
human strength. Many of us in our younger days learned from the deep
faith and active strength of our sisters of the early days and made
efforts to spread the gifts we have received in our country which is
non-Christian and in other parts of Asia. We too are now somewhat at a
standstill, not because of natural disasters or wars, but by rapid
changes in the world and the ageing of our sisters. Because we are in
such a period, we are learning to see what is invisible, to hear what
we did not hear and to work more contemplatively. The history of the
Church and that of the Society may seem to have come to a slowing down
but new life begins to sprout out from happenings that might make us
shrink back. In our weakness we are filled with hope and trust and sing
the Magnificat. From today, let us look with a new eye at the world
that surrounds us and work with greater faith and gratitude for the
glory of the Heart of Jesus.” |
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Last Updated ( 29 Jan 08 )
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