When I Met Leonila

By Francis Xavier Shigeki Ishikura

In an unexpected way, a Japanese married to a Filipino found his way to the Catholic faith. Here he tells of his journey and how his wife, Leonila, became instrumental to his change of heart.

My first encounter with the Catholic Church was through my wife, Leonila, a Filipino from Bulacan, who is a Catholic. It all began after our marriage when I had to drive her and our children to church. At first, once a month, then twice or three times until ten years passed in no time.

The smiling faces of the members of the church and the frequent contact with them built my friendship with them. Meanwhile my two children were baptized and I became the only one left in the family who was not a Catholic. I asked my wife would it be possible for a person like myself to become a Catholic. She was very happy and she eagerly answered, “Yes.” With her affirmation I began to attend their Bible study group. This was a group of Filipino mothers who faithfully come to church and study the Gospel every Monday morning for an hour and a half, after their husband and children leave for work and school.

The ‘yes’ that did it all

For a year, under Fr. Toyama’s guidance, I studied and learned many, many things about the Catholic Church. Then one day, Father surprised me with his invitation to receive the Sacrament of Baptism. My heart was full of joy, yet at the same time full of doubt. Was I really worthy to be baptized as a Catholic? With mixed feelings, I agreed to be baptized into the Catholic Church. I looked forward to the day when I would stand before God as his child and receive his Sacred Body. While counting the days to my baptism I looked back to my unhappy life before I married Leonila. Those were not fortunate days, full of vices and violence towards others. It was a dark, depressing life.

Because of my wife

At last, I have discovered and experienced God’s love, leading me to the grace of Baptism. Needless to mention, my own joy, the joy of my wife and children and all the members of Karai Church, where I was baptized, was beyond words. I cannot express enough my gratitude to these special persons who helped me to get out of my dark past. And very important of them all is my wife to whom I am most grateful for.

Keeping this grateful memory in my heart, I will strive to live out this wonderful grace.