Superior of Kamishakujii Fr Semoto Masayuki, Superior of Kioi-chō Jesuit Residence Fr Kajiyama Yoshio, Fr Tsunoda Yūichi, Fr Antonius Firmansyah, Fr Yamauchi Yasunori, and Japan Provincial Fr Tsutomu Sakuma

The Japan Province had numerous reasons to celebrate in September.

On 8 September, Fathers Antonius Firmansyah, Tsunoda Yūichi, and Yamauchi Yasunori pronounced their Final Vows at the Kioi-chō Residence chapel, with Japanese Provincial Fr Tsutomu Sakuma presiding over the ceremony and receiving the vows. Fathers Semoto Masayuki, Inoue Kiyoshi, Kawamura Shinzō, Nguyễn Minh Toàn, and Brother Muraoka Nobuchika attended from Kamishakujii. Fr Yamauchi’s mother and Fr Tsunoda’s parents were also present, along with guests invited by Fr Firmansyah from the Sophia Catholic Students Association. The celebration continued with a dinner, during which the three Jesuits addressed the gathering and introduced their guests. Afterwards, everyone moved upstairs for a lively session in the recreation room.

The following day, in Vietnam, novice Nguyễn Minh Khắc and 10 others pronounced their First Vows at a 6 am Mass in the Jesuit church adjoining the Vietnam Province headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite the early hour, a total of some 700 individuals, including Jesuits, family, and others, were present. After the Mass, a magnificent breakfast was held on the grounds of the Jesuit Scholasticate. Over 60 of Khắc’s family and friends travelled from the north to share in the joy. As Fr Provincial Sakuma was unable to attend from Japan due to the Final Vows ceremony in Tokyo, Fr Yanagida Toshihiro represented the province, travelling from the Philippines. The Japan Province is deeply grateful to the Vietnamese Province and especially to Novice Master Fr Phạm Minh Thắng for providing Khắc with a strong foundation for his Jesuit life. Scholastic Khắc spent some days with his family near Hanoi before returning to Japan on 20 September.

Fr Watanabe Tetsurō, Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, Fr Mori Kōtarō, and Fr Provincial Tsutomu Sakuma

Back in Tokyo, on 23 September, Deacons Mori Kōtarō and Watanabe Tetsurō were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi SVD in St Ignatius Church, Tokyo. The guests of honour included Fr Mori’s family from Yamaguchi Prefecture and Fr Watanabe’s family from Sendai. Many Jesuits and other well-wishers participated in prayers for the new priests, with some 60 priests concelebrating. An open reception followed in St Joseph Hall. Later that evening, a more intimate party with limited participation took place at the Scholasticate. The new priests will be busy for a while with first Masses in various parishes. [H Koyama SJ/T Yanagida SJ/ R Chiesa SJ]