Bro. Prasanna Perera, OMI – The face of the Catholic Church is becoming more universal and intercultural. In the document of the Second Vatican Council, Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), it states that the Church does not wish to impose a rigid uniformity. In simple words, the Church has become more approachable to people. It has broadened its wings, trying to be present with people rather than remaining only in its theoretical sense.
In the light of the Second Vatican Council, the encyclicals that have been published up until now can be seen as efforts to make the Church more approachable to people on earth as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Each country, each diocese, and each unit has taken responsibility for becoming more pastoral and approachable to the people whom they serve.
In light of the Church’s understanding of mission, we, the religious of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, well known as specialists in difficult missions, have come forward to take on the challenge of serving people who are lost, with a limited number of priests, in this rapidly developing country where poverty is often forced into hiding.
With this background, I found myself planted in a different soil, experiencing life and ministry in Japan. It was my first-time visiting Nagoya and Toyohashi. I was enthusiastic about experiencing what my exposure to Toyohashi Church would be like. Here, only a few Japanese people come to Mass, but there is a large crowd of Brazilians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Peruvians who are devoted and actively involved in different aspects of Church life.
The Filipinos were very friendly. Eventually, I became friends with them, and they were very open with me. They are fun-loving people. During the Obon holidays, I was invited to share meals with them, and it was a great opportunity to get to know our people. Sometimes, they shared their victories, pains, and difficulties with us. I think this was a sign of the trust they placed in us. Personally, I appreciate it when somebody trusts me, and I know how much I try my best to keep that trust.
Subsequently, I participated in Masses celebrated in different languages and tried to take care of the plants in and around the mission house, making sure that all the lights and air conditioners were turned off before going to sleep. I thought that this would lighten some of the responsibilities of Fr. Jude and Fr. Howard. We also did not forget to Relax, Fr. Jude accompanied us to explore The Auto mobile Museum in Nagakute and Ryugashido Carven in Hamamatsu. We enjoyed visiting them too.
Adding to what I have said earlier, among many first-hand experiences in Nagoya, it was also my first-hand experience in entering a Japanese Onsen commonly known as ‘Japanese public bath.’ First time to be exposed to such a unique cultural practice. Beyond the physical act of leaving behind my clothes, this first encounter opened my eyes to the deep spiritual reality within the custom. In Japanese tradition, water is not merely for physical hygiene, but a sacred medium for the washing away of spiritual impurities to achieve a clean, clear heart. Therefore, it was something that helped me to see things in a broder sense.
According to my observations, our foreign youth, under the influence of the Japanese youngsters they meet at school, may have developed a more introverted character. As a result, they can become somewhat hesitant to open themselves freely when encountering people. In that sense, I also felt that I was not completely free to talk to them. Sometimes, I felt that our conversations did not last long because they preferred to speak in their own language rather than continue the conversation in Japanese.
I believe that our conversations alone cannot measure how deep our relationships are. I do not know how much my presence at Toyohashi Church has impacted the living faith of the people here. But I know that my silence, my smile, and my presence among them might have made them feel something that words cannot express. I think that is all I want as well.
It is noteworthy that, by remaining silent and trying to listen to what God has to say to me through different situations and encounters, I learned many lessons. For these, I am very grateful to Fathers Jude and Howard for the different insights they gave me, which strengthened my vocation during my stay in Toyohashi. They showed me through their lives that our presence here is not to struggle with our difficulties and struggles, but to live and to serve.
Coming to Toyohashi helped me to know a better version of myself. I realized that I am a soldier who is on retreat, preparing for a great battle. I feel that this experience is slowly shaping me and articulating within me a greater purpose. For this, I thank God for making use of me so that His people may come closer to Him through our humble instrumentality.
