austraLasia 901
Japan-Brasil migration flow reversed, and a Salesian's challenge
YOKOHAMA: 8th October '04 -- Everyone knows of YAMAHA, SUZUKI, HONDA, all names associated with Yokohama and Hamamatsu City (the latter, population 500,000), but many would not be aware that 13,000 Brasilians are working there, part of the 263,000 population of Brasilian migrants in Japan, most of them Catholics. Many are children of Japanese migrants who early in the 20th century migrated to Brasil! The flow has been reversed, and a Brasilian Salesian, Fr. Higa, is the lone chaplain to the 13,000 in Hamamatsu City. In the wider urban area of Yokohama the problem is more acute - Brasilian migrant Catholic population roughly equals the number of Japanese Catholics (52,000) and another 40,000 Catholic migrants from other countries (Philippines, Korea, Vietnam etc) make migrant chaplaincy a huge challenge.
It would be easier if there were adequate facilities, but Catholic migrant chaplains do not find it easy to have a place of their own within normal parish confines. Fr Higa would be a good example. The only meeting place he has is his own apartment, and for Sunday Mass, the chapel at the Catholic Girl's school nearby. He celebrates a monthly Mass however in as many as 13 local Churches throughout various cities in the area.
Fr Higa has spent 10 years in Japan, and learnt the Japanese language (which he now speaks perfectly) only on arrival. His work, as one can imagine, is unrelenting: sacramental preparation, liturgy, reference point for persons in difficulty. The Brasilian migrant community, however, is a vibrant one; young (most in the 20-30 year old bracket), involved. They demonstrate the changing face of the Church in Asia, a missionary face. Ever since Fr Higa's arrival every Saturday a group of Brasilian workers and now with other enthusiasts, many of the latter not Christian, provide food for as many as four different froups of Japanese homeless people in downtown Hamamatsu. This service with its powerful Christian message has received good media coverage.
__________________________
'austraLasia' is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia-Pacific. It functions also as an agency for ANS, based in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com. Did you know that 'geniale' is a classic example of a 'false friend', and while Don Bosco was certainly a genial character, that is not what is mean by the Italian word!. For further comment cf Lexisdb
