Fr Jerry Cusumano SJ, Deacon John Baptist Tetsurō Watanabe SJ, Archbishop Tarcisius Kikuchi Isao SVD, Deacon Francis Assisi Kōtarō Mori, and Japan Provincial Fr Renzo De Luca SJ

The Japan Province rejoiced in the ordination of two Japanese deacons in the St Mary Chapel of St Ignatius Church, Tokyo, on Saturday, 11 March. Francis Assisi Kōtarō Mori SJ and John Baptist Tetsurō Watanabe SJ were ordained by the Archbishop of Tokyo, Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi SVD. Numerous Jesuits, family, and friends participated in the ceremony, a first since pandemic community gathering restrictions were eased. Among those who participated were delegates from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific meeting on migrants and refugees.

Deacon Kōtarō Mori was baptised as an infant in a Jesuit parish near Yamaguchi, where his mother has served as principal in the parish kindergarten. Currently, Kōtarō is principal of the St Ignatius parish Sunday school for children.

Meanwhile, Deacon Watanabe, who comes from the northeastern Sendai area, was baptised at the age of 12 along with his family. He learned Chinese during his Regency in Taiwan and now assists at the Jesuit China Center in Tokyo. He gave his words of appreciation at the end of the Mass in both English and Chinese. The date for their ordination to the priesthood has been set for 23 September. [Japan Province]