In Japan, the brothers are divided up into two vicariates: one is attached to the Province of Canada and the other to the Province of the Rosary, of Spanish origin. The latter province, created for the missionary evangelisation, is very present throughout the Far East.
The brothers’ quarter in Tokyo
The first part of the trip concerned the brothers of the Canadian vicariate. So it started in Tokyo, in the Shibuya quarter, where the brothers have their convent. The day after my arrival, with brother Watanabe, an escape into the countryside was organised to a house in the province which welcomes retreatants at Takamori Soan.
The second part of the trip took place at Matsuyama, on the island of Shikoku. There, the brothers of the Province of the Rosary assure their apostolate in children’s gardens, parishes and colleges.
In between these two sections dedicated to the brothers, a 24-hour stopover was organised with the nuns of Seto. Having celebrated Mass, when the lay members of the Brotherhood of the Rosary had joined us, we talked about this beautiful devotion.
The pilgrim Rosary of the Jubilee captured people’s attention and an appointment was made: the 30 and 31 July 2016, the Rosary will stop at this monastery. But this will not be the Rosary’s only stopover in Japan: in fact there are three monasteries of nuns in this country who welcomed it the 2 and 3 of January last and who will receive it again the 15 and 16 of April next.
A big thank you to each of you for this considerate welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun!
Fr. Louis-Marie ARIÑO-DURAND, OP
General Promoter of the Rosary