"Peter, feed my sheep" - Energizing encounter 

with Pope Francis in Tokyo

By Hamamatsu Salesian Parish Brazilian community

Yokohama Diocese, Japan, 1 December 2019 -- The Hamamatsu community was graced to attend the Eucharistic celebration in Tokyo Cathedral (25 November) and some of our young people sent by our parish were able to attend a reserved audience with our dear Pope Francis as well. We hope that this visit of Pope Francis in Japan will generate many fruits especially because happened at the time the Church prepares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Some of the Brasilian Catholics share their touching experience:

Keila Kojima Omura (Catechist) from Hamamatsu is in her 14 weeks of pregnancy and took part with her husband Toshio Omura in the youth gathering in Tokyo Cathedral. She was happy to be blessed with her future baby by Pope Francis personally: "I was to touched. I would never imagine meeting the Pope personally. The blessing from God is very special. Together with my husband we were moved to tears!"

Another participant from Hamamatsu community in the papal visit in Tokyo, Mario Aoki (46 years) share his strong emotions, not only due to the encounter with Pope Francis, but also due to the fantastic welcoming by Japanese people: 'I was very surprised, knowing that less than 1% of the population is Catholic, with the incredible and wonderful way of welcoming the Pope. We were in the packed sports stadium for the Mass with 60,000 people. Never was somebody welcomed in so touching a way like Pope Francis, when he entered in his papa-mobile into the stadium. I appreciate the warm cheering of the Japanese people, knowing that usually they are reserved and rather closed, but they let themselves be affected by the presence of Pope Francis, some of them moved to tears. His message about the Gospel values directed to this nation was clear. He spoke about ambitions and economy, talking about the spiritual values amidst the materialistic society, things that really matter!'

Hamatsu Catholic Brazilian community express their gratitude:

"We give thanks to our brothers who for various reasons could not participate personally in the Mass, we would like them to feel blessed and represented by those who were present, because they were all included in our prayers! God bless you all! The Brazilian Catholic community of Hamamatsu thanks all the support received from our parish priest Fr Àngel Yamanouchi together with those responsible for the Hamatsu parish Japanese community. They were driving us, bringing the necessary information to make us the best possible way, for this long awaited day! Thank you very much!

Related FB of Hamamatsu Brasilian community: 

https://www.facebook.com/catolicahamamatsu/

Full article about the Hamamatsu Brasilian community with Pope Francis in Tokyo, Nov 25 (Portuguese):

https://www.alternativa.co.jp/Noticia/View/82379/Um-beijo-que-veio-do-ceu-diz-mae-de-menino-brasileiro-abencoado-pelo-papa-em-Toquio?fbclid=IwAR1O2vFJkD3wmdwOHM9C_2HJB7YwY4WI-sgDGPCY224xxaKTfFLbWZZwoe4

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