Japan
1983-2008 : 25th Anniversary of our Community presence in Yamagata
With Sister Mayumi Kida’s approval, we, the Sisters of the Élisabeth Bruyère Convent in Yamagata invited the Sisters of the Province as well as the Christians of the parish to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated in our Chapel on January 12, 2009. There were 60 people in attendance in our small chapel, but we managed to accommodate them all… Father Noriaki Yamada, Provincial Superior of the SSCC, concelebrated with four of his fellow priests. He thanked the community for its 25 years of presence and service at the Mikokoro Residence, the St Marie Garden and the Maria Komakusa Day Care for children.
At the end of the Mass, Sister Kida, in all simplicity and spontaneity, thanked the Fathers for their warm welcome in the diocese, for the daily Eucharistic celebrations, and also thanked the parishioners for their fraternal support. Going back 25 years, she recalled that in 1983, there were only twelve SCO in Japan. Like
Mother Bruyère, with a certain audacity, generosity and much confidence in Divine Providence, they responded to the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary’s request to support the project of the new Mikokoro Residence. The Lord wanted us there and has been supporting us with His grace, peace and love ever since.
The luncheon that followed was very conducive to sharing our souvenirs of the past years; then looking at a collection of photographs brought back more fond memories of those 25 years. This lasted until 1:30 p.m. when, together, we sang a hymn to the Holy Spirit that invites us to be witnesses to compassion in today’s world. Finally, we all joined in to sing Providence de Dieu (in French)
Sr Micheline Ouime
Updated
3-07-2010
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