Tokyo (AsiaNews) - "Solidarity among Japanese born after the tsunami has turned a story that began with tears and sadness into a new beginning that communicates a message of joy." So says Fr. Peter Komatsu, chancellor of the diocese of Sendai, in an Easter letter sent to all Catholics hit by the tsunami.
"After the tsunami - says Fr Komatsu – there were no signs of hope anywhere. But just then the phone started ringing and we began a new chapter”. The priest explains that each day dozens of people from all over Japan call offering help and sympathy with the victims.
He stresses that, thanks to volunteers from all over Japan the work of charity that began on 11 March in Sendai has become widespread in the prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and is slowly reaching the parishes that are still isolated.
The combined efforts of Catholic volunteers, civil defence and the army have also allowed the restoration of state highways 4, 6 and 45, which connect the capital and the earthquake affected areas. This allowed the priests and lay Catholics from the most remote parishes to participate in the celebrations of Holy Week, organized by the Cathedral of Sendai. During the Chrism Mass, celebrated last April 20, Mgr. Martin Hiraga, Bishop of Sendai, asked each priest to be faithful to Jesus, especially in this particular moment of pain for the population of the diocese.
On the occasion of Good Friday, all Catholic parishes in Japan prayed a common prayer for the victims of the earthquake, tsunami and radioactive leak, asking God to give hope to survivors as they begin a new life.