By UCA News reporter
TOKYO – The Tokyo archdiocese concluded its sixth monthly gathering of young people on Feb 22, offering them a quiet time in prayer to help them discern their vocation in life.
Since September, the archdiocese has hosted the monthly “Youth Moment of Prayer Gathering,” where young people visit a different religious house and spend time in prayer in the capital of Japan.
The Pontifical Mission Societies of the Tokyo Archdiocese (Missio Tokyo) organize these gatherings. Missio Tokyo is part of a global network established by a division of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization to promote missionary work worldwide.
These gatherings aim to help “young people to discern their vocation,” said Isao Tadokoro, a Tokyo Archdiocese Curia staff member in charge of Missio Tokyo.
“We want them to pray about how they should live their lives, not just about becoming clergy or non-clerical Religious,” Tadokoro said.
The gathering begins with a Bible reading and includes readings from Pope Francis’ meditations and reciting from the Liturgy of the Hours, the daily prayers of the Church. It continues with reflection and sharing and concludes with a free conversation.
The fifth gathering was conducted on Jan 24 at the Carmelite Kaminoge Convent in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward. Five young people, nine Missio Tokyo staff members, and priests from the Carmelite community attended.
Father Takashi Ohse of the Kaminoge church explained the Liturgy of the Hours, which primarily priests and religious now recite in the morning and evenings. The priest helped them recite the prayer.
Two of the four Carmelite priests who participated were missionaries sent from Indonesia 11 years ago.
Ohse mentioned a Carmelite brother in his 20s who was sent together with the two priests but died of illness shortly after arriving in Japan. He said the brother’s vocation and trust in God’s plan were beyond human comprehension.
A young man who participated for the first time said, “It’s rare to have a quiet place prepared for me to pray. I have not been able to pray for a long time, so this was a valuable opportunity.”
A young woman who attended the gathering for a second time said that last year while attending the gathering at the Salesian nuns’ convent, she “realized that I had not been listening to what my heart was saying, and as we were sharing, I burst into tears.”
She said she felt the depth of silent prayer this time and added: “I was surprised at how different the atmosphere of prayer is depending on the religious order.”
Tokyo Archdiocesan Father Naoki Monma serves as Missio’s representative in Japan. Officials have appointed diocesan directors for Missio in three dioceses, but the other 12 dioceses continue without such directors. – UCA News
