St. John’s 

　The main congregation functions as the headquarters and trains the young people. Since a few years ago, young people from Vietnam have joined our convent, which is now full of youth. They are overcoming the differences in language and culture and study hard every day. I wonder what kind of service they will be able to offer when they become sisters? No matter what form they take, the founding spirit is the same and the charism will be passed on. The Koganei congregation is next door. It is a community with a wide variety of members, from sisters who go to work to elderly sisters who support the community with their prayers. When the convent was renovated, elevators and bathing facilities were added for the elderly sisters. It is a great joy to be able to attend the joint Mass between the Headquarters and Koganei at the Koganei Church which is next door. Some of our elderly sisters participate in wheelchairs and walkers. We begin our day with the Divine Service and Mass. It is a joy to see the young people helping the elderly sisters. The Oshino congregation, which moved from Hachioji to Yamanashi, has been working with the students of the school. Even now, every Saturday evening Mass is celebrated with the students of the school. It may not be liturgically beautiful, but I am sure it is the most beautiful Mass before God. They do their best to chant the Hymn of Glory and the Declaration of Faith in front of God, even if they make mistakes. It is a very important service for our charism. As our newest community, we have created a small community in Fuchu to serve at the parish church. We have an elderly sister who does a lot of work such as the rituals of the word, washing the uniforms of the attendants, and taking care of the church, with the help of the church members.

　Our congregation is a Japanese congregation and has been 99% Japanese for over 20 years, with the exception of one Australian sister. In the past few years, we have received an increasing number of callings from Vietnam, and we are taking on new challenges. Having young people in the group is not only physical, but it also revitalizes and brightens the group itself. The elderly sisters also seem to gain strength when they see the energetic girls. In order for them to become true sisters of John, I would like them to carry on the spirit of the foundress. In order to do so, each sister must do what she can and what she must let go of, even if it is hard, trusting in God's grace and keeping the spirit of the foundress burning in her heart as she walks daily as a sister of St. John.