Responding To Refugees and Migrants, 20 Pastoral Action Points

Click to view:  20 Pastoral Action Points

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Talitha Kum Japan – (Network against Trafficking in Persons)

This is to share with you what transpired during the meeting on Human Trafficking sponsored by Talitha Kum (Japan) where I also serve as a member of the steering committee (we function under the umbrella of J-Carm which is the episcopal commission for migrants and refugees). Continue reading

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Memorial Service in Osaka

The Sri Lankan community living in the Kansai region of Japan came together on April 28th to remember and pray for the victims and the injured in the terror attacks that took place on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. The memorial service which was organized by the Kansai Japan Sri Lanka National Organization (KJSNO) was conducted by a Buddhist monk and Catholic priests. The prayer service was attended by more than hundred people at the Yodogawa River Park in Hirakata City, Osaka. It was an occasion to express our sympathy and solidarity with the people back in Sri Lanka and to pray for peace in the country. Continue reading

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Meeting with Fr. Marek in Kochi

Only Jerry Novotny and I attended the full meeting. Iwo had gone to bed because he was very tired. Iru had Mass during that time and came late and didn’t open his mouth once. Of course, he’d been alone in the car with Marek for 2 hours coming from Naruto and he’ll spend the day with Mark showing him Aki, Akaoka, the Catholic Cemetery and Enokuchi, before he brings him to the airport this evening. Continue reading

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Spring Meeting 2019: “MIGRATION IN ASIA”

The theme of our spring meeting, April 2, 2019, was “Migrants, Refugees and People on the Move”. Continue reading

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613,000 in Japan aged 40 to 64 are recluses, says first government survey of hikikomori

About 613,000 people aged 40 to 64 are believed to fall into the category of recluses, who hide themselves away in their homes without working, the government’s first survey on the age group showed Friday. Continue reading

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Suicide now leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 14 in Japan

Suicide has become the leading cause of death among children aged 10 to 14 in Japan for the first time in the postwar period, an analysis of government demographic data has shown. Continue reading

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With divorce on the rise, more Japanese taking to ‘prenups’ as they prepare to wed

The prenuptial agreement, an age-old practice fairly common in many Western countries, is gaining a foothold in Japan as more and more people insist on drawing one up to ensure they will be protected if their marriage ends badly. Continue reading

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Visit to Israel, Journey to the Holy Land

Keeping up with my 25th ordination anniversary, I thought of doing something spiritual while focusing on the 25 years of my journey as a Missionary Priest. It has always been a kind of a dream for me to visit the Holy Land. It is true that, as priests, most of our studies about the holy land are limited to books, but we really do comprehend on a deeper level what it is all about. Continue reading

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Letter of the Superior General at the closure of the “Year of Oblate Vocations” 

Dear Brother Oblates, and all our Brothers and Sisters who live the Oblate Charism. We celebrate, on this feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the 203rd anniversary of the foundation of our Congregation. We are concluding the Congregation-wide “Year of Oblate Vocations,” an initiative requested by the Congress of Mission with Youth and the Congress on Oblate Vocations, and endorsed by the members of the 2016 General Chapter. This Year of Oblate Vocations has raised the consciousness of the entire Congregation to our responsibility to believe in the future of the Congregation as an instrument of missionary evangelization in the Church. We are all called to pray and work for vocations of vowed Oblates who will live the charism of Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Continue reading

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Christmas Party in Kochi

Once again, OMI community in Japan gathered for their yearly Christmas party which was held on 27th December 2018. This year our delegation Superior and the council decided on creating an organizing committee to set up the Christmas Party. Jerry Novotny, Irudayaraj and myself, Jude Peirispulle were put in charge. After discussing the matter, we decided to give a different color to the gathering this year. Continue reading

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2018 – Celebrating “Life” This Christmas

This year, Oblates from South Korea and Japan will gather in Kochi City, Japan, to celebrate Christmas. Although we belong to one delegation, we function in two different cultures, with two different languages and our missionary approaches are quite different. Continue reading

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