A Season of Grace and Gathering: Celebrating Faith and Community in Japan

KYOTO, Japan – This August, the traditional OBON (お盆) holiday period was a time of spiritual renewal and vibrant community gatherings across the region. Leveraging this long break, our ministry organized and participated in a series of events that brought together hundreds of faithful for prayer, celebration, and service.

The busy schedule began on August 10 with a joyous visit from the Bishop Paul Yoshinao Otsuka, Bishop of Kyoto to the Nara community, strengthening diocesan ties.

The mission then moved to the Himeji Diocese in Osaka from August 11-12, where we had the honor of giving a talk and celebrating Holy Mass for local parishioners.

The following weekend, from August 16-17, our focus shifted to Mie province. There, we attended a charity concert to raise funds for the poor and joined the vibrant festival celebrating Our Lady of La Vang (the image of Mary behind).

Immediately after, we returned to our home church to celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine with a solemn Mass and a lively party for 300 enthusiastic youths.

Without pause, our community celebrations continued into September. On the first Sunday of the month, we joyfully pre-empted the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (officially October 1) with a large party for 200 people, ensuring all could celebrate before a scheduled vacation.

Further deepening our cultural and community bonds, we organized a Lunar Full Moon Festival for the children of Fushimi Church. The event featured the sale of traditional Vietnamese foods, successfully raising funds for future charitable works.

Through God's grace, these diverse events allowed us to share the joy and blessings of the Gospel, building a stronger, more connected faith community across Japan.