Celebrating Christmas Mass with Sri Lankans in Fukuoka

Posted on February 2, 2026 by editor

Samith Sandaruwan, OMI – As a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who came from Sri Lanka to Japan almost 2 years ago, I had a great opportunity, at the request of my fellow Sri Lankans, to celebrate the Christmas Mass in Sinhalese on December 21, 2025. Unlike last year, this time we could celebrate the Holy Mass at Hikarigaoka Catholic Church in Fukuoka. It was decided to have it there, as many of the Sri Lankans lived close by. We were very grateful to Bishop Josef Abeia CMF, the Bishop of the Diocese of Fukuoka, and to Fr. Fr. Funatsu, the parish priest, who both graciously granted us permission to celebrate Mass there. We were also thankful to the parishioners for extending their supporting hand in various ways. If not for them, our dream of celebrating the Holy Mass would not have come true.

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Senior Citizens Feeling Lonely

Posted on January 6, 2026 by editor

Jerome Novotny , OMI –  Have you ever had a pervasive feeling of being alone, empty inside, or cut off from others? For many older adults, loneliness is a painful and distressing experience caused by a gap between their desired and their actual levels of social connection. Unlike simple social isolation, which is an objective lack of contact, loneliness is the subjective emotional pain of feeling alone, even when surrounded by others. The loss of loved ones, declining health, and a loss of purpose can intensify feelings of loneliness. The painful experience can result in a higher risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and even premature death.

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Merry Christmas in a world in turmoil.

Posted on December 20, 2025 by editor

Jerome Novotny , OMI –  Christmas arrives this year amid a world that feels heavy — news of conflict, loss, climate anxiety, economic strain, and a loneliness many of us carry in silence. Simultaneously, the season advances with a flurry of lights, lists, and unavoidable shopping frenzy, making it effortless to overlook the true purpose of our celebrations. Yet it is precisely in this tension — between the rushing and the brokenness — that the deeper meaning of Christmas can be found and lived.

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How to Grow Old with God

Posted on December 15, 2025 by editor

Jerome Novotny , OMI –  To grow old with God is not merely to count the passing years, but to allow those years to deepen faith, become gentle, and bring peace to the soul. Aging, when lived in union with God, becomes a holy pilgrimage – one in which the noise of life grows quieter, the essentials become clearer, and the soul is gradually prepared for future life.

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A Calling from God

Posted on December 9, 2025 by editor

Samith Sandaruwan, OMI – I would like to share my missionary calling. Before entering seminary, I heard about and observed the Oblates working in Sri Lanka and read books about their overseas missionary work. After graduating from high school, I cherished the desire to become an Oblate missionary, and God made that dream come true.

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Advent – a season of waiting

Posted on December 3, 2025 by editor

Brad Rozairo, OMI – Waiting is part of life, and it is always for something or someone. Have you ever considered the act of waiting within your daily life? Where in your life lies your Advent—that period of waiting? For instance, waiting for someone important, waiting for your child to return home after school, waiting for a husband returning from a long-distance posting, looking forward to a long journey to meet relatives – all these are your personal Advent.

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Way for the future, news from Toyohashi

Posted on December 2, 2025 by editor

Jude Peirispulle, OMI – Various activities are taking place in and out of our church daily.

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The Hardships of One Oblate Bursar

Posted on November 6, 2025 by editor

Kenichi Furukawa, OMI – My main job is accounting. However, due to a shortage of staff in Japan, I also serve as kindergarten principal and parish administrator. I’ve always asked for a reduction in my responsibilities, but it’s still being postponed.

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Lifelong Commitment as an Oblate Brother

Posted on November 1, 2025 by editor

Part １ – Perpetual Vows Ceremony

Bro. Nobuhiko Yagi, OMI – It was late at night on August 3, 1991. With the Perpetual Vows Ceremony scheduled for the next day, I couldn’t fall asleep. The thought that my life as a formal Brother would finally begin tomorrow made me realize, no matter how I looked at it, that my weaknesses and flaws made it impossible for me to walk as a Brother. I had prepared for the next day right up until that moment, yet the day before, my confidence began to crumble.

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 Priest as YouTuber: A New Way of Ministry 

Posted on September 24, 2025 by editor

Savarimuthu, Stephen, OMI – I am Fr. Steve OMI from India, serving in Japan. As the pastor of Naruto & Anan Catholic Churches, I am daily surrounded by the smiles of children and feel hope through Montessori education in the kindergarten. In my spare time, I prepare cooking videos featuring South Indian dishes, using my hometown cousins in Japanese for YouTube. 

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Peace with Creation: Season of Creation 2025

Posted on July 19, 2025 by editor

Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI – The theme for this year’s Season of Creation is “Peace with Creation.” The Season of Creation is an ecumenical initiative that takes place annually from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, to October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Creation. The Biblical base for the theme, “Peace with Creation”, comes from Isaiah 32:14-18. During the Season of Creation, we join together as sisters and brothers of a universal family, celebrating in prayer and action how to renew our appreciation, our commitment, conversion, and our care and activities to protect and bring new life to Mother Earth, our Common Home. The Season is in the spirit of truth, a time to do a heart-filled assessment of the situation of Mother Earth, which is suffering many abuses and misuses by us humans. The Season of Creation is a source of strength and communion, encouraging us to truly hope and act justly with all of creation. To begin in a deep spirit of heartfelt gratitude, we thank our loving God for the beautiful gift of all creation.

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A Journey of Peace: Bearing Hope – A Message from the Bishops 80 Years After the War

Posted on July 8, 2025 by editor

To all who want peace, especially young people:

Introduction

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. In this milestone year, we once again pray for those who lost their lives, for those whose dignity was violated in various ways, and for the natural environment that suffered so much damage. After as many years as a human lifetime, how shall we accept the idea of valuing human dignity and the desire to realize peace, and how shall we pass that idea and desire on to the next generation?

In this Holy Year, which is celebrated once every 25 years in the Catholic Church, we hope to move forward with you, especially you young people, in the hope of creating a peaceful world.

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