In early March and April 2025, Br John Wong, Definitor General for Asia-Oceania, embarked on a series of visits to the Franciscan communities and missions of the Province of the Holy Martyrs in Japan. The brothers of this Province, who are preparing for their Intermediate Chapter in November this year, continue to honour their rich history of mission and service.
The visits of Br John began on March 2 in Tokyo, where he celebrated Sunday Mass with the parish community at the Franciscan Chapel Centre in Roppongi. After the Eucharistic celebration, he met with members of the local fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. The Franciscan Chapel Center, where masses are celebrated in Japanese and English for the local community, expatriates and visitors to Tokyo, is part of the legacy of Franciscan friars in Japan - a legacy rooted in decades of service and commitment to peace and simplicity.
From March 3 to 7, Br John visited Nagasaki, a city with a profound missionary history. Here, he spent time at the OFM Nagasaki Project, also known as the International Franciscan Community of Peace. In Nagasaki, Br John met with the local friars and the General Commission for the Service of Dialogue. They also visited historical sites of Hidden Christians and honoured the memory of Franciscan Martyrs. This segment of his visit underscored a deep historical connection between sacrifice and hope - a connection that serves as the very foundation of the Nagasaki Project.
In Osaka, during his visit on April 6-7, Br John engaged with friars, Japanese parishioners, and members of the Korean and Vietnamese migrant communities. This meeting at the Osaka Friary was filled with conversation on the challenges posed by an aging membership and declining numbers within missions and pastoral ministries. Yet, amid these challenges, a spirit of hope prevailed. The dialogue focused on nurturing new vocations and the possibility of bringing fresh energy to the communities, mirroring the pioneering missionary spirit celebrated throughout the history of the Franciscan order.
The journey continued to Hokkaido on April 8-9, where Br John visited friaries and met with missionaries and ministry leaders in Sapporo and Asahikawa. This was the first visit by a member of the General government of the Order to Hokkaido since the visit of Minister General Constantin Koser, almost 50 years ago. In these northern regions, the warm hospitality of the communities and the steady determination to serve amidst hardships shone brightly. Br John’s interactions further underscored the need for reinvigoration - a plea for new missionaries to join the ranks of those who have long been the heart of the Franciscan mission in Japan.
Concluding his series of visits, from April 10 to 12 Br John returned to Tokyo. He visited the OFM Provincial House and the Poor Clare Monastery in Kiryuu, culminating in a celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and a Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday at the Franciscan Chapel Centre. His presence in Tokyo served as a reaffirmation of the Province’s enduring commitment to its core values - simplicity, humility, courtesy, and unwavering commitment.
The recent visits of Br John Wong, together with his companions Minister Provincial Br Augustinus Kuwata, Provincial Definitor Br Francis Furusato, and Communications Director Br Antonio Kim, were steeped in history and the spirit of mission, echoing the profound legacy of the Franciscan Order in Japan. Throughout the visits, the Provinces major challenges of ageing membership and few local vocations were evident.
As such, in between the visits of the Definitor General, the Japan Province celebrated particularly a joyful moment on March 30, 2025, with the priestly ordination of Br Luka Komito - marking the first local ordination in over ten years. This milestone signals not only continuity but also hope for the future.
As part of their spirit of hospitality and hope, the Province has also prepared a three-month exposure and discernment programme in Japan, for friars who may wish to serve as missionaries, inviting new vocations to be part of this long-standing missionary tradition.
Balanced between honouring its venerable past and addressing the challenges of today, the Province of the Holy Martyrs in Japan continues to stand as a symbol of resilience. The collaborative spirit seen during these visits reaffirms that the mission of service, simplicity, and sacrifice remains as vital now as ever - a call to all who believe in the transformative power of faith.
