Japan: A new beginning for the Wajima Church
In the Noto Peninsula, the Diocese of Nagoya witnessed the joy of the consecration of a new church in Wajima 20 months after a devastating earthquake razed the old one. As a sign of things to come, the new place of worship welcomed some 20 Filipinos who discovered a home amid the tragedy and show of solidarity for this small community.
Nagoya (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Yesterday was an important day for the Diocese of Nagoya and the Catholic Church in the Noto Peninsula, the Japanese area hit by a devastating earthquake on 1 January 2024 that killed more than 650 people and caused extensive damage throughout Ishikawa Prefecture.
On a clear day, Bishop Michael Matsuura Gorō had the joy of presiding over the consecration ceremony of the new church in Wajima, the most damaged of the parishes affected by the earthquake.
Some 20 months ago, the quake completely razed the local community’s small church, forcing local Catholics to gather for Mass in a hall of the nearby Catholic kindergarten while a new church was rebuilt from scratch.
Yesterday was the day of the consecration of the new place of worship, presided over by Bishop Gorō with the rite of anointing the altar and the crosses with chrism.
The liturgy was livestreamed, not only because of the small size of the church but also as a way to share this celebratory moment with the many Catholics across Japan who generously supported the communities affected by the earthquake.
The consecration of the new church in Wajima was an important token of a new beginning, not only because of the new walls built after the rubble was removed.
The solidarity shown after the earthquake gave rise to a new outreach for this community, which is very small, like most parishes in Japan.
“When I became bishop of this diocese ten years ago, the Wajima church community was very small, with just four or five Japanese attending Sunday Mass,” writes Bishop Matsuura Gorō in his message announcing the inauguration.
“After the earthquake, however, more than 20 Filipinos, mostly residents of the city of Wajima, began attending. Most of Wajima's parishioners were affected by the disaster and were displaced to temporary shelters,” the prelate explained.
“Donations from across the country to the Diocese of Nagoya, however, made it possible to offer financial aid, and the construction of the new Wajima church has provided significant support to their life and faith.”
“We have received generous donations from churches, religious orders, Catholic schools, institutions, and individuals from across the country," the bishop of Nagoya added.
“Thanks to your generosity,” he writes, “we were able to provide right away a one-time contribution to all parishioners and kindergarten staff affected by the disaster in the Noto area, and offer financial support in September 2024 proportionate to the damage to their homes.
“We have now managed to completely rebuild the Wajima church, and we are truly grateful. We will also look into the reconstruction and overhaul of the Komatsu and Nanao churches” (also affected by the quake).
Bishop Gorō ended his message saying that, “The Wajima church was designed to serve as one of the bases for the relief efforts by the Caritas support centre, which will continue to work on behalf of the local disaster victims with the assistance of volunteers.”
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