By Fr. Jaime Del Rosario, omi

I came here in Japan 1996, I was ordained in September, 1995 at the Our Lady of Grace Parish in Caloocan City as an O.M.I. priest. I ministered in that Oblate Parish as a deacon and then as a priest for some months. Coming to Japan as a new priest, at the age of 28 is a really challenging mission for me.

The Oblates are known to going for the most difficult missions. As a seminarian I had a great desire to go the difficult missions, particularly in foreign lands. I thought that it was a noble self-offering to the Lord. But now that I’m into a difficult mission, I begin to realize that “difficult” really is difficult.

I am studying ‘nihon-go right now at Nanzan University in Nagoya. The Language is totally different. It uses Chinese characters too that I have to learn to read and write. The Japanese society is highly secularized and economically affluent. People are busy and have no more time for community life. Their life revolves around functions: work, study and household-chores. During my school breaks, I help out in our Oblate parishes. It is a new experience for me to celebrate Mass with only about 6 people on a Sunday. Our bigger church would have 200 people at the most.

.06 of Population

A first-world economy, with a third-world Catholic Church aptly describes the mission situation in Japan. Yes, Japan, as a nation is highly industrialized. But, the death of its Catholic members keep the Church at a humble stance in society. There are only about 717, 541 Catholics in Japan; 289, 808 of which are Filipinos and Hispanic. Of the 125. 7 million people, Catholics are only 0.06% of the population. Quite gentle voice in a mammoth crowd aren’t we?

Militarist Ambitions

Now, what should be Christ’s mission among the Japanese people today? Francis Xavier must have asked the same question in introducing Christianity here in 1549. But, at that time the Japanese rulers feared a Europeans in the 1600’s and eventual persecution of Christians converts. However Japan was forced to open its closed-door policy only in the 1860’s. Then its gradual rise to economic power led to its militarist ambitions, which were quelled when it lost the Second World War. It was from that period (1946) onwards that a new Japan was established, oriented now towards peace and economic progress.

Oblates Arrive

It was at that stage that in 1948 the Oblates of Mary Immaculate started their mission in Japan. In the intervening 50 years, 6 Japanese have become oblates. Considering the number of Catholics here, that is a good enough harvest. We are currently blessed with 3 seminarians. The 23 Oblates at present are involved in parishes, kindergarten schools, with the deaf, Pro-life, alcoholics, orphans migrant workers, the youth, vocation and lay movements.

The Marginalized

How to continue the mission? We have to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling us. Today, Japan is a top economic power. The people feel self-secure as to their financial needs. But they do not feel secure with regards to the deeper meaning of life and interpersonal bonding. The highly-urban life can be monotonous and empty. Those who cannot keep up with social standards we marginalized. But this where Christ dwells – among the marginalized and the poor in spirit.

We were Found

We who already have known Christ have the duty to proclaim that we not longer have to search for meaning aimlessly. We were already found by our only ground for hope –a witness to Christ’s love, humility and service. No matter how small we Christian are here in Japan, we have the humble role as salt and leaven of the Kingdom of God.