Have you heard the "International Mass"?

Hi! It's Shelille Linn. (^O^)

In my last blog, I've said Catholics and Christians here in Japan are familiar to the  mystical belief than "day to day custom" due to the invisible oppression in the Japanese society.

I've been in Yokohama Dioceses where so many US Forces bases are here and there as well as the first port to open the country since the mid 19th century.

In my little parish church, there are more than half community members are whether foreigner living in Japan, children of non-Japanese parent, or returned descendents of Japanese immigrants whose parents or grand-parents immigrated in Latin American nations such as
Brazil, Peru, Argentine and Mexico since 1910-1970.

The majority of foreign community members are the Philipina mothers married to Japanese man and  "lost and found" Japanese soldiers descendents during WWII. The second largest group is the vietnamese community who once became refugee in 1970th by Vietnam war. Vietnamese community is the largest group which send novices to various convents.

Very special community is the Sri-Lankan community. Sri-Lankan community contains not only Catholic but also some buddhists by the request from the buddhist authority in Sri-Lanka. Buddhists join our Holy Mass on St, Anthony's feast, for St. Anthony is the guardian Saint of Sri-Lanka.

Therefore our biggest feast is Pentecoste. We enjoy various international food market and the flee market.

Our Mass is also very special. We hold "International Mass" with all or several communities.

Since our parish is in Japan, the order of Mass is basically done by Japanese language. But, first and second reading might be read by English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.

Opening, and closing song are often English songs are sang by Philipine community along with the Japanese choir, their children and those who understand English.

Kyrie and Gloria are usually  sing in Japanese language.

Responsorial Psalm and Allelujah are usually in Japanese language too, for the Japanese Catholic hymnal is basically in Gregorian chant style, and many first generation settlers out of Japan also like to hear the Gregorian chant.

The gospel is usually read in Japanese language, but it all depends on the priest. If there's a priest who's fluent in another language, Gospel might be read by English or in other languages.

A homily is basically Japanese, but it also depends on the language ability of the priest. The maximum language used in the homily I've heard is four...Japanese, English, Spanish and Portuguese spoken by an Italian priest from Milano Mission!

Offertory songs are usually sung by Vietnamese or Sri-Lankan community for their language pronunciation is so difficult that most of other nationals cannot imitate and join their songs.

Sanctus(Holy Holy) and Agnus Dei(Lamb of God) is sung in our parish way. We enjoy Sanctus in the Portuguese to show our respect to Brazilian community, and Agnus Dei in Tagalog language which is the national language in Philipine to show our respect to the Phillipine community.

Lords prayer is said all in Japanese language regardless of the origin. There is  a Romaji view beside an altar, so everybody can join even you are a temporary visitor.

Communion songs are usually mixed two language group choirs, so no choir member miss the communion.

Since English became a broad language that "everybody learn and speak", you can never imagine to have foreign languages to your local English Mass even you have some foreigner member in your community.

Actually, we do the International Mass for "Communio Communion"(Communication through the holy communion) which is our Dioceses' policy shown by our Bishop Raphael Umemura.

We enjoy the International Mass,  not because the Japanese language is not a "broad language".

To open our heart to foreigners, settled aliens, those who believe in other religion or belong to other culture,we first need to have an experience to share something substantial but not devoted too much with politics, monetary trouble nor too close to ordinary living at the beginning.

It is very natural to feel something's strange to sit next to a stranger. So, we celebrate our Holy Mass together to knock down the wall in our common senses' feeling.

It is our true blessing and grace of our Lord to have a special chance like this. Since we Catholics are less than 0.2% of the whole nation in Japan.
I really believe that our Lord Christ have granted us the special gift like this.

May your days be happy in this Easter season, Amen.