The community in Japan celebrated two 60-year jubilees, Sisters Mary Paul Morimoto, CSJ and Miriam Maki, CSJ. A community Mass was planned by the jubilarians, but the pastor got sick and was unable to celebrate. We celebrated a special prayer instead.
On the March 19, all the sisters joined St. Joseph Joshi Gakuen’s school assembly to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day Mass in the gym. It is considered a very special day, so all the students were dressed in their formal uniforms. After Mass, Sisters Lucia and Teresa joined the school faculty for a special luncheon. The rest of the community went to a traditional Japanese restaurant to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day.
In the evening, Sisters Miriam and Rosanne had a virtual visit with friends from Chile. At the end of the conversation, the Chileans asked Miriam to sing a song about thanksgiving she used to sing when she worked in Chile. She sang the whole song on perfect pitch with her strong singing voice. Sister Mary Paul helped her to remember the verses, and we recorded them singing together.
The festivities continued with liturgy on Sunday morning. The bishop happened to be there on his regular pastoral visit. Following Mass, we all went to a very old restaurant (100 years). The former owner was a graduate of our school, and her granddaughter is a server.
When the pastor was able visit for our regular community Mass, we prayed the liturgy as planned by our jubilarians. St. Joseph was honored well this year as were the jubilarians!
