Thank you, Fr. Jan Janoszka, SA, for sharing this reflection from your visit to our Friars in Japan last month with Fr. Emil Tomaskovic, SA.
“Fr. Emil and I visited our Friars in Yokohama, Japan, from May 9–16. First of all, our deep gratitude goes to Fr. Joseph Hiramatsu, SA, and Brother Ignatius Kobayashi for their Franciscan hospitality from the very first moment of our meeting at Tokyo Haneda Airport and St. Joseph Parish in Tsurumi. Since Fr. Emil and I are not familiar with hiragana, katakana, or kanji, we relied on our two Atonement Friars to assist us. They translated, made suggestions, guided us constantly, and we are deeply grateful for that.
Fr. Joe invited us to co-celebrate Sunday Mass with him, which provided a wonderful opportunity to spend the morning with the parish community and experience their warm and overwhelming welcome firsthand. As time passed, we came to appreciate the profound dedication and spiritual contributions of the Friars in Japan over the past seven decades. These moments offer concrete and tangible evidence of the Friars’ deep involvement in a diverse array of ministries. In addition to St. Joseph’s Parish, they provide care and educational services (including education from kindergarten through high school). They also engage in significant social outreach through the Atonement Center and regularly assist the homeless population in Kawasaki.
The promotion of ecumenical relationships with other local Christian denominations remains a central tenet of their mission. Given the deep historical and cultural significance of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan’s religious heritage, the Friars have shown a profound interest in interreligious dialogue. In a gesture of respect for these spiritual traditions, Fr. Joe and Bro. Ignatius accompanied us on several spiritual excursions to shrines and temples in and around Tokyo. These visits included a personal encounter with the renowned Great Buddha at Kotoku-in in Kamakura.
At the conclusion of our visit, we were privileged to meet our Sisters, share a moment of prayer and Mass, and enjoy a delicious meal together. This gathering served as a timely reminder of the remarkable discernment of our founders, Father Paul and Mother Lurana, in following God’s will and embarking on a shared Franciscan journey. Their actions were marked by great courage, as evidenced by their pioneering efforts to establish a distinct charism and path of ‘at-One-ment.’
This legacy, so clearly evident in the lives of our Friars and Sisters in Japan, has been entrusted to each of us. It underscores the profound commitment to spiritual healing and reconciliation that defines our community. With deep gratitude, we give thanks to our gracious Lord for this transformative gift—our charism, which belongs to the whole People of God: ‘Arigato Gozaimasu’ (ありがとうございます).
Photos include: St. Joseph Parish, Yokohama; High School and Atonement Center; images from the high school founded by the Friars; motto on the wall features three Greek words representing Christian virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.”
