Monthly Archives: December 2019

Childhood in Japan is certainly not getting any easier

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Jerome Novotny

The girl was 15, the teacher in his early 30s. He recognized her ability, encouraged her, befriended her, seduced her. He took her to a love hotel and said, “This is what grown-ups do.”

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Babies born in Japan to drop below 900,000 in 2019 for first time

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Jerome Novotny

The number of babies born in Japan fell an estimated 5.9 percent this year to fewer than 900,000, the first time since the government started compiling data in 1899, the welfare ministry said Tuesday.

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Journey From Advent to Christmas With Mary

Posted on December 24, 2019 by editor

When we imagine Mary making the journey to Bethlehem, we think of her as waiting for the Christ child. But she wasn’t waiting for Him. She was the only person who wasn’t waiting anymore. Yes, she was waiting for His birth, but … Continue reading →

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My Experience of Christmas

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Rozairo Bradly

(Bradly Rozairo, OMI) -Every year around this time the whole world gets ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We in Japan also remember Christmas when it enters the cold season and celebrate it as a festival.

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The Message of Advent is a Message of Justice for the Oppressed

Posted on December 13, 2019 by editor

The scripture readings for the season of advent tend towards the apocalyptic. I use the word in both senses here: in its original and etymological meaning of “revelation” (literally, unveiling) and in its more colloquial “end of the word” sense.  … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on the Immaculate Conception

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Jerome Novotny

The immaculate conception refers to the dogma that Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother, Ann, without Original Sin. The Scriptural evidence for this dogma is, of course, the angel’s greeting: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1: 28). … Continue reading →

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