Northeast Japan’s ‘profound loss’; battered diocese counts its dead
Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
(CNS PHOTO/REUTERS/YOMIURI SHIMBUN)
More than 300,000 displaced people were living in makeshift shelters across the ravaged region of northeast Japan as of March 23, and physical, mental and social privation was widespread. Blankets by the tens of thousands poured in from Tokyo, from Canada and elsewhere to comfort survivors, especially the elderly, exposed to the winter cold. The National Police Agency reported more than 22,000 dead or missing, and the number was climbing daily. The Japanese Catholic Church was counting losses that included kindergarten children who were swept away and parishes that disappeared. The church opened an aid center at the Sendai cathedral to serve victims in the Sendai diocese, which includes four devastated provinces. In his message on the center’s opening, Sendai Bishop Martin Tetsuo Hiraga invited every Christian to become involved and recalled that in difficult times “it is important not to forget the infinite mercy of God,” the church news service asianews.it reported. Lack of such basic needs as water, electricity, fuel and medicine, and lack of immediate prospects for improvement, is causing great physical and mental fatigue among the displaced, the news agency said. The chancellor of the Sendai diocese, Father Peter Komastu, confirmed that an unspecified number of pupils of the Catholic diocesan kindergarten lost their lives. Buildings at four parishes were damaged. All the parishes on the south PROFOUND LOSS, page 10
Daly: Ordination set for Bishop-elect Associates and family members celebrate Bishop-elect Thomas A. Daly’s appointment to the Diocese of San Jose as that diocese’s first auxiliary bishop. Bishop-elect Daly’s episcopal ordination will be held May 25 (Page 3).
A man grieves next to his destroyed house where his dead mother is buried in the rubble in Onagawa, Japan, March 17.
St. Brendan Parish joins Christian ministry outreach to imprisoned youth The two priests wondered, “Who are the people in darkness in our area?” the pastor said. They found that while Who is my neighbor? the parish was working with Laguna Honda Hospital, “No The Gospel question strikes at the heart of Christianity. one was going to juvenile hall,” Father Nascimento said. St. Brendan the Navigator pastor Shortly thereafter a new parishioner, Father Daniel Nascimento and a handful Mary Jean Chan, who was baptized of parishioners have found the answer two at Easter last year, approached Father blocks away from the parish church — at Nascimento about working with the youth the new San Francisco County Juvenile at juvenile hall. The Juvenile Justice Center Justice Center. The center houses youths put St. Brendan in touch with Comunidad ages 11-18 who are being held on susSan Dimas. Founded in 1992, Comunidad picion of crimes ranging from burglary San Dimas works with imprisoned and to murder. Most are gang affiliated, and gang affiliated teens and preteens. estranged from their parents. Some are The call from St. Brendan’s was an undocumented, with family in Mexico, answer to a prayer for Comunidad San Central America or South America. Dimas Director Julio Escobar, who had “Basically I believe a parish is called to Father Dan Nascimento been asking God for a way to expand the be a light to wherever it is planted, “said Spanish-speaking ministry to include an Father Nascimento, who took the helm at the parish on English training so volunteers could work with youth Laguna Honda Boulevard near Portola Drive July 1, 2009 at whose primary language is English or Chinese. U.S.-born, the same time as his associate pastor Father Michael Quinn. Father Nascimento speaks some Spanish and Cantonese. (PHOTO BY JULIO ESCOBAR)
By Valerie Schmalz
The first English-language training was held Jan. 22 and 29. Volunteers came from the East Bay and San Mateo as well as from St. Brendan Parish. St. Brendan parishioner Amy Feasey, a mother with two small children, drives past juvenile hall and asks herself, “Who wants their child there?” She felt called to help. Her first visit to juvenile hall as a volunteer was for a Monday night Bible study. A group of older teens stopped watching TV and joined in, she said. “They were definitely interested in the readings and talking about them,” she said. “I hardly have time to do Bible study. The fact they made me sit down and think about the reading of the week – I was really impressed.” St. Brendan parishioner Naveen Sharma said the focus of the ministry is very much different than social work. “We are not going there as professionals,” she said. “We are not going there with a treatment plan or treatment goals. We are going there with an open heart to really express love to these children.” St. Brendan parishioner Paul Detweiler, who lives ST. BRENDAN, page 8
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION On the Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 News in brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Father Knapp dies . . . . . . . . 5 Iraq’s ‘near genocide’ . . . . . . . 6 Scripture reflection . . . . . . . 14
Rite of Election Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral ~ Page 11 ~ March 25, 2011
Lenten journeying toward a new spring ~ Page 12 ~
Martyrs and Mary: Japan’s Christian history ~ Page 16 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Father Rolheiser . . . . . . . . . 15 Datebook of events . . . . . . . 17
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 13
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