Sinulog 2010 in Joso, Japan

JAPAN — Every 4th Sunday of each month, an English mass is celebrated at the Joso Catholic Church in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. This month’s 4th Sunday was different from other previous 4th Sundays as for the first time in the history of this church and perhaps, even for the Catholic Church throughout Japan, the Feast of the Santo Niño was celebrated. It was Sinulog time at Joso Catholic Church!

It is said that Joso was built by the migrants, especially by the Nikkeijin, the descendants of Japanese, particularly from Brazil and the Philippines.

The Brazilians attend a Portuguese Mass on some other Sundays, celebrated by Fr. Nelson, a Brazilian priest based in the Tsukuba Catholic Church within the same prefecture. The English mass is celebrated by Fr. Andrew Healy from the Tsukuba Catholic Church as well. On certain occasions, the Portuguese and Filipinos join together in worship.

There were more than the usual Joso churchgoers last January 24. Aside from the Filipinos, there were also those from Sri Lanka, Honduras and other countries who joined the happy celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño in Joso! There were more Filipinos who joined as well who came from various other nearby dioceses of Toride, Maebashi in Gumma, among others.

Sr. Flor Florece, with her supportive madres of the Hijas de Jesus, Sr Consola de Matos of Brazil and Sr. Teresa Ikasaki joined forces together with the very active and supportive Filipino members of the Joso Catholic community.

The Sinulog celebration started off with a very beautiful mass led by Fr. Healy. A special Filipino choir, HIMIG, from Koenji, Tokyo shared their time and beautiful music during the celebration as well.

Sr. Marianita led the Maebashi, Gumma delegation who presented a re-enactment of the arrival of the Spaniards in Cebu and the baptism of Rajah Humabon and his wife, along with their people, the so-called first Sinulog celebration ever in the Philippines.

After the reenactment, a talk by Fr. Jack Serate of Cebu should have followed. Many parishioners also came to do confession with him in the Visayan language. Sadly, Fr. Jack had to leave Japan to join his family in Cebu for the funeral of their beloved family member who had gone back to the Lord.

Had Fr. Jack been there, the whole church would have rocked with much laughter and joy hearing a genuine Cebuano priest share his experiences and insights about Sinulog and about the Child Jesus.

Instead, they had to settle for a lowly substitute, Fr. Cherry, they teased me. The Visayan majority among the participants, however, kindly and enthusiastically interacted with me as we went through the meaning of the celebration, why the Child Jesus was referred to as Santo , what the feast day was about – celebrating the love that our God the Father showered us all with ( For He so loved the world, He gave us His only Son).

We also reflected on the significance of our Lord Jesus Christ coming into this world as a baby and as a child of God. Our loving God the Father expects us to be like children, who are so carefree, unmindful of worries and stresses because of their complete dependence and faith , obedience and love for their parents! Each day, let us, like children, let go and let God!

We also went through the history of the term Sinulog,(from sulog, the water-current movement of the celebratory dance for the Sto. Niño) and (sam) Pit Senyor. We concluded by reminding ourselves to sampit, like children, to bring our petitions, our prayers, our thanksgiving, in collective manner and collective faith, to God our Father, through His beloved son, our Sto. Niño.

Some moments were devoted to meditation and reflection after that, followed by the offering of petitions and offerings to the Sto. Niño! Then, everyone was asked to participate in the procession and join in the celebratory dance for the Sto. Niño performed by the Joso church members. Those who brought their own statue or pictures of the Sto. Niño happily raised their hands in prayer and devotion to the tune of the Sinulog beat. Later on, the participants gamely waited and cheered the winners of the charity raffle draw.

Continuing feedback are reaching Sr. Flor requesting that this very joyful celebration for the Sto. Niño, the first ever Sinulog Celebration done in a collective manner by Filipinos and other devotees of the Sto. Niño outside their own respective county of origin, be repeated in the years to come!

What a wonderful day to cry out joyfully once again, Pit Senyor to our Child Jesus in Japan. For sure, those who joined felt they were at home together with their families and God!

* * *

Email: [email protected]