SUMMER and YOUTH

With this liver problem that I am having, I cannot move much and enjoy the summer this year. But there are certain assignments to be done in between rest and most of them were holy masses with an overnight stay at youth camps.

At the last part of July, I had to go to as far as Kawaguchi-ko in Yamanashi to spend some time with the GLORIA　BOYS' CHOIR for their　yearly summer training and practice camp. I admire the dedication of these boys when they practice. I doubly admire the dedication of the men and women who teach and assist them. The GLORIA BOYS' CHOIR was established exactly 50 years ago in this church where I am working by a Redemptorist priest for the purpose of having a choir composed only of boys (just like that of Vienna). The change in the way we do our holy mass has diminished their role within the liturgy, but the choir continued on.

Celebrating the mass

with them the next morning, I only had 6 communions, meaning that only around 1/5 of the membership is Catholic. Yet, they sing classical church songs (by Gounod, Haydn, Mozart, etc.) as their usual repertoire.

August 8th, I was with the middle and high school parishioners for their summer camp, together with their university student-leaders. We were off to Akagi, Gunma in the morning and arrived there around noon. The theme of this year's camp was METAMORPHOSIS (dap-pi, in Japanese). A deep theme. But the place did not match it. The campsite is literally a campsite -- small cottages on a mountainside, far from

civilization nor even from the nearest convenience store, no cellphone signal (and prayers that no accidents would happen!), firewood for cooking, a separate house of shower and toilet...

I was talking to my liver as I went up and down those paths, asking forgiveness for letting him work and tire this way. Personally, I cannot recommend this place, especially when church camps for youth have themes that make

them reflect.

August 22 was the Summer Festival of the Parish, a yearly activity organized by the youth themselves. I am the one in-charge of the youth in the parish, but I literally did not interfere in any of their plans and preparations. They were really good!

I only showed support

by giving them something to eat and celebrate at the middle or end of a day of work, work and work. The day itself was great, with a lot of our senior parishioners participating in the group sharing and dances.

August 25. I was on the train to Mishima, Shizuoka right after my parish mass. I was off to the Hakone no Sato,

a campsite and nature-school type facility to join the Boy Scouts.

Again, a lot of Boy Scout units are based in churches (Catholics and Protestants alike) in Japan, and it is interesting that they request for a mass in their camps every year. I had the mass in the afternoon that same day and joined them in their campfire that night.

Peculiarly, the place and its facilities fit more the

middle and high school camp! The next day, I joined them in their train ride going back to Kamakura.

And the toll on my liver? Well, I

have to undergo a liver biopsy by next week! It is just to determine well what really hinders me. I was "almost" on the road to recovery 3 weeks ago. Was it the travel? Was it the food? Was it the medicines prescribed for my pinched nerves? For those who have read this, please say a simple prayer for my complete recovery. God bless!

YUKINOSHITA CATHOLIC CHURCH

Finally, after 2 months, I have finally come to update this blog!

I transferred to this place called Kamakura last April 14. And even if the boxes and luggages weren't opened yet, I had to go to my chaplaincy work the very next day. Meetings followed in the weekend. Yes, I just found myself immersed in all the work while trying to condition myself adjusting to a new environment.

Then, the sicknesses followed -- colds, viral infection, migraine, vomiting and loss of appetite, then, the dreaded gout and my present liver condition. They say there is so much stress in transferring from one place to another... and more when there is a new work to be done! I think I overdid myself in getting too conscious to the expectations of people around me that I forgot one important factor: MYSELF.

Anyway, here's a little orientation of this new parish where I am working. I am now 1 of 2 assistant parish priests in this church called YUKINOSHITA, in a historical called KAMAKURA, a 12th century capital of Japan. Situated between the mountains and the sea in the Prefecture of Kanagawa, Kamakura is a mecca of students and historical devotees who flock to this place and see the antiquity of the temples and its nature. Everyday is literally like fiesta over here, with the main commercial area and tourist spots crowded with people.

The church used to be a property of the Redemptorist Fathers until March of 2008. It was handed over to the Diocese of Yokohama and now has for its parish priest someone who grew up in Kamakura itself... talk about a "prophet that isn't welcomed in his own country"! As of this year, it is the most populous parish in the diocese (over 3,000 faithful) but concretely, it is only 2nd to another church. On weekends, we see more people in church as there are also local and foreign tourists who join the mass. Since it was under the Redemptorist Fathers, the church is under the tutelage of the Mother of Perpetual Help... and yes, the Wednesday novenas are also done here!

Aside from being a Parochial Vicar, I am also in-charge of the youth apostolate to the Pastoral Cluster of Parishes (the other parishes in the vicinity), from the middle and high school students to the young adults.

There is so much to talk about this church and my present works. Funny, but the primary aim of my blog to talk about Filipinos here in Japan seems to be switching to showing the world how the Japanese Catholics live. If this is the flow of things now... then, let it be!

Recent Personal Happenings

Spring is definitely coming here in Shizuoka... they say, earlier than usual.   The start of the new school year used to be the time when the cherry blossoms are blooming, but it seems it will not be anymore.  Cherry blossoms are expected to go full bloom by tomorrow over here.  

Just in front of the church compound is the inner moat that used to protect Sunpu Castle, 

the last place where the famous Ieyasu Tokugawa lived.  It was from this castle that 

the declaration to persecute Christians was handed 

down.  The castle is no more.  But there is a beautiful park in it.  On dry, cold winter days, one can see the beautiful, yet, 

imposing Mt. Fuji, white and mysterious, as if Mt. Olympus was just a stone's throw.  

Come March 

29, it will be the elections of the City Parliament.  The way they conduct their campaign is something Filipinos should 

learn from.  They make their speeches on places where people usually pass through like train stations and city squares.  They do not make rallies... and I suppose DO NOT COERCE people to become the crowd of these rallies.  All they do is make their speeches heard -- perhaps targeting the "unattentive" passerby's mind, 

knowing that it will naturally sink into his/her own thinking process.

But what actually strikes me is the limitation of posters.  Yes, no big streamers or tarpaulins!  No stickers or a barrage of posters on walls!  Just the designated, temporary board with 

the designated size for only ONE poster per candidate.  We, Filipinos, may still accuse the Japanese to be barbaric 

World War II offenders... but elections is one proof that they may be less "barbaric" than us, Pinoys, when it comes to elections. 

Last February 22, I received a text message from the bishop to see him for an emergency talk.  I went to his office the next day -- my mother's birthday! -- and he told me the surprising news: that I am moving from Shizuoka to Kamakura to become assistant parish priest.

No, it's not a promotion.  It's just that the parish priest of Kamakura (Yukinoshita Church) really needs a replacement for one of his assistants (who will be parish priest of another church).  The bishop told me he specifically asked for me.  Flattered or not, this is one new challenge for me.  Yet, I just cannot avoid thinking of the fact that this is my 8th transfer in my 9 years in Japan.  I feel like one of the Israelites in Moses' time traveling for 40 years to get to the Promised Land.   

(Right: picture of the church that I downloaded from its website.)