1948, after World War II, the CICM responded to the invitation of the Bishop of Osaka, and started
ministering to the Japanese people. Among the different works of the CICM in Japan, inter-religious
dialogue is of utmost importance.
Background:
Japan is an interesting nation with strong economic and commercial capabilities, a rich cultural heritage,
technological capability, spatial paradoxes, and contradictions. But before that, after World War II
ended, Japan was devastated. All large cities (except Kyoto), industries, and transportation networks
were severely damaged. A serious shortage of food continued for several years.
Lifestyle of the people:
Since Japan was destroyed, its empire dissolved. The form of government was changed to democracy,
and its economy and education system were reorganized and rebuilt. The citizens of Japan are adapting
to this situation.
(post-war American occupation shaped Japan and introduced many western values that became a part
of Japanese culture. Western music, film, food, cars, etc. were introduced to Japanese society.)
Why did the CICM choose this country:
The Bishop of Osaka namely Monsignor Taguchi invited CICM since there is a problem with their religion
especially when the State of Shinto was abolished.
(State of Shinto – a source of narrow-minded nationalism and militarism. Shinto and the state were
combined and now clearly separated.)
Shrine Shinto continues to exist because of the principle of protecting freedom of religion.
What did the CICM do in this country:
Journeyed with young people in school & youth movements in which the CICM missionaries bring new
life and vibrancy to their presence.
(CICM missionaries continue to do this since there are issues that affect young people in their youth
ministry, most of the issues that Japanese youths face are not restricted to any religious group, club or
nation which include drug use, materialism, low-income jobs, the negative impacts of electronic media,
a lack of self-confidence and, above all, confusion and ambiguity. Also, disturbing growth in the rates of
depression, bullying that escalates to violence, and suicides among Japanese youth. Many Japanese
young people report seriously questioning if their life is worthwhile, and they are struggling to find their
way. However, this ministry is focused on asking the youth to examine their problems critically and to
consider what they can do to change them.)
How CICM was sustained in the country (practices, infrastructure)
The establishment of Matsubara Catholic Church - is situated in Tokyo's
Setagaya Ward. On the real property, where Catholics from the
surrounding area met for Sunday Mass, the Congregation of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary established this church in 1955.
Joyful moments experienced by the CICM priest in the country
February 28, 1965, the parish has grown from a small group of only 7 people at the first Mass to a
community of more than 1,200 persons today. The ORIENS Institute of Religious Research is situated in
the same compound ever since it moved from Himeji to Tokyo.
Challenges experienced by the CICM priest in the country
Scarcity of food
Respective rights
Reduced conversions to Christianity
(The extreme poverty of the first years following the war had been replaced by an intense economic
dynamism that was beginning to produce wealth.)
Active CICM Missionaries:
Bishop Edogar Gacutan, C.I.C.M
- Born on September 23, 1964, in Cagayan Province, Northeast Luzon,
Philippines.
- In February 1990, he was transferred to Japan as a seminary student.
In 1994, Bishop Gacutan was ordained as a priest for the Congregatio
Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM). From 1994 to 1997, he was the
assistant pastor at Kongo Church in Osaka, and he was a member of
the team ministry in Osaka for six years until 2003.
- Fr. Edgar served in many parishes in the Archdiocese of Osaka, Sendai,
and Tokyo. He served as a Provincial Superior of the CICM Province of
Japan from 2004 to 2012.
Rev. Wifridus Ngalla, CICM
- Born in Indonesia in 1983
- In 2011, he arrived in Japan as a seminarian. After a three-year internship in Japan (2 years
studying Japanese, 1-year pastoral internship), he was ordained as a priest in Indonesia and
served as a team ministry member of the Kurashiki Block in 2014, (Kurashiki, Mizushima, and
Tamashima) of the Hiroshima Diocese.
- 2015-2017, he served as an assistant priest at Okayama Church in the Diocese of Hiroshima.
- 2017-2019, he was sent to the Third District of the Diocese of Sendai (Yotsuya, Shike, Kamido,
Miyako, Kamaishi, Hanamaki, and Kitakami)
- 2019 to 2021, he served in the Osaka Arch Diocese, Himeji Middle Block (Himeji, Sayo, Ikuno and
Toyooka) as a collaborator priest.
- 2021 to 2022 served as a parish priest of Himeji Church and Sayo Church, and as the
administrator of Toyooka Church.
- Present time, he is currently serving as the parish priest of Matsubara Church in the Diocese of
Tokyo.
Rev. Fr. Galuh Arjanta Bubun, CICM
- Born in 1987 in Indonesia.
- 2002, he entered minor seminary
- Joined CICM in 2006
- Graduated from Philosophical and Theological Studies in 2011.
- 2012, he continued his Theological Study in the Philippines, and after
graduating in 2015, he was assigned to Japan.
- In 2018, he was ordained as deacon at St. Michael – Kishiwada Parish, Osaka
Archdiocese.
- 2019, he was ordained as priest in his hometown, Makassar, Indonesia.
- 2019 to 2020, he served as an assistant parish priest at Kakogawa Parish in the Archdiocese of
Osaka.
- Present time, he is currently serving as an assistant parish priest at Matsubara Parish in the
Archdiocese of Tokyo.
References:
Cazzaniga, P. (2008). At over 80 years of age, two missionaries teach the Gospel and serenity. Pime Aisa
News. Retrieved from https://www.asianews.it/news-en/At-over-80-years-of-age,-two-
missionaries-teach-the-Gospel-and-serenity-11937.html.
Kabundi, H. (2014) “Go, Do Not be Afraid, and Serve”. Missionhurst CICM. Retrieved from
https://www.missionhurst.org/go-do-not-be-afraid-and-serve.
Matsubara Catholic Church (n.d.) Welcome to Matsubara Catholic Church. Retrieved from
http://matsubara-cath.chu.jp/en/about-us-2/.
Morishita, Y. (n.d.). How Japanese Culture Changed After WW2. The Japanese Way. Retrieved from
https://thejapaneseway.com/how-japanese-culture-changed-after-ww2/.
Taylor, A. (2014). Japan in the 1950s. The Atlantic. Retrieved from
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/03/japan-in-the-1950s/100697/.
Union of Catholic Asian News (n.d.). Bishop Edgar Gacutan. Retrievd from
https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-gacutan/1096.
