Church History
★ In 1938, the completion ceremony of the rectory of Narumi Church was held at Yagiri 50. The guest room on the first floor was designated as a temporary chapel. It was a place of scenic beauty and a residential area with a lot of greenery in the suburbs of the big city of Nagoya. The baseball stadium was also nearby. Rev. Bayer, the first appointed pastor, said that with a smile. There was no furniture there, but children from the neighborhood came to play, and two or three scholars visit it. The Pastor invited people who liked baseball or just to take a walk. Fr. Machošek, the next appointed Pastor, seemed to be a man who excelled in the art of church consecration, had built a new church in Okazaki and entrusted the parish to Father Seki.
★ Fr. Seki the new appointed Pastor of the Parish. The priest was familiar to many faithful, and some parishioners called him our father. He was a talented musician and sportsman. He officiated at many events. He also played catch ball with junior high and high school students and played sports with them, such as table tennis. He also played games against other Christians of Ehocho Church.
CBC vocalists were also invited to Mass. Young violinists performed at the all-night Christmas party. World-renowned violinist, Mr. Koichiro Toyoda stayed also at Narumi Church the night before he went to Europe and chatted pleasantly with us. At the mass conducted by Fr. Seki, we all enjoyed the liturgical songs sung by him. On New Year’s Eve, the bells of the Church rang over 100 times.
The way Father Yamasu of Midorigaoka Church teaches music is reminiscent of Father Seki. I also enjoy music together with him. It is still fresh in my memory that Fr. Seki, with the cooperation of professor Ito (a former junior high school teacher), published “The Theology of Liberation” in 1986 despite his painful disease.
From his experience in the battlefield, he removed the traditional religious atmosphere and practiced a way of life that convinced the insensitive hearts of people. He founded the Catholic Student League, and spent time running east and west with young people to rescue the victims of the Isewan typhoon. In 1962, in his silver anniversary, a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and a pond were built in the garden. In 1973, Fr. Shigeru Yui was ordained by Bishop Soma, and the following year he was appointed as an associate to Narumi Church.
★ In 1975, Fr. Shigeru Yui was appointed as the fourth pastor, and the current rectory, meeting hall and the church were blessed. At that time Fr. Yui organized the Christian community, supported the activities of working youth (JOC), and people with disabilities. The number of Christians Nagasaki Goto area also increased, and the church school became a lively church recruiting young people such as candidates of seminarians and catechist applicants. The church became alive recruiting young people.
On weekdays, Mass is held only at the convent. Fr. Yui is busy participating in volunteer civic movements and various social activities.
★ 1998 Fr. Keisuke Ishiwaki, the 5th Pastor for 7 years (3 years as an Associate Pastor and 5 years as Pastor). He run the parishioners’ community, and organized various voluntary small groups. He conducted early masses at the convent and had early masses at AM 10 o’clock at the church. After that, he had Catholic study sessions. A happy event was the vocation to the priesthood of a new priest, the actual Fr. Asai.
★ Fr. Jaime Cisneros 6th Pastor of the church for 2 years. Fr. Jaime was the first foreign priest to arrive to perform pastoral activities. It took some time to get accustomed to work together but he stayed at the church two days a week and held evening study sessions. On Sundays, volunteers have dinner together.
The number of Filipino groups has increased, as well as other international groups and together, we have invited local people to an “open House” with a potluck dinner, entertainment, etc., along with children and young people, and enjoyed the annual social gathering. This event continued at a later date, with Mass being offered in the garden.
★ 2009 Fr. Jordi Gittal, the 7th Pastor for 4 years. The depth of his spirituality and personality attracted people. He preached that the Bible is the basis to feel the love of God and it should be always read. There was also a theory. In times of grief, people found great comfort in the way he spoke.
★ Fr. Yamas Josep, was the 8th Pastor from 2013 to the present. His singing ability and ♪ music guidance was exceptional.
★ Fr. Marcelino Fontz, Associate Priest. Since 2017, he has also served as Pastor of Narumi and Midorigaoka Church.
He tries to respond to the new times with thoughtful pastoral care for Vietnamese trainees. He has many pastoral activities outside the parish, including Mass and preacher for Spanish-speaking communities.
Attracted to Eastern spirituality, before the Mass starts, everyone is invited to hold a moment of silence. At present, Father Marcelino is regaining his old youthfulness. In the future music will be played together with Midorigaoka Church, and a noisy new world will be created. Without a doubt the dissemination of information online will become a tool for new music.
★ Fr. John Xue, the 10th Pastor from 2023 to the present.
(Translation from Japanese into English by Fr. Ando Isamu, SJ)