“The love of Christ impels us to serve him in people."
These words were the spirit in which the first missionaries of the American province gave us witness through their lives in the spirit of St. Francis and our founder, Father Bernsmeyer. We Japanese Sisters have laid hold of this spirit and have continue it under the motto, "Always with the Lord.”
After the second World War, a time of poverty and gradual development of Japanese society, many changes took place simultaneously in the field of medicine. We Sisters responded to the challenges of this time, and we endeavored to serve the sick and to show them that they were loved and valued as persons.
The Beginning of the Japan Mission
In the summer of 1948, two foreign sisters left Shanghai, China, for the land of Japan, invited to do medical work in Japan. In the summer of 1948, two foreign sisters left Shanghai, China, for the land of Japan, invited to do medical work in Japan. They were Sr. Clementia and Sr. Polycarp of Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. The purpose of their visit was to explore the posibility of new missionaryactivities in Japan.
Development and Current Activities
Today, we have modern and well-equipped medical facilities such as Himeji St. Mary's Hospital, Maria Villa Health Care Facility for the Elderly, and Lourdes Comprehensive Support Center for Severe Disabilities to meet the physical and mental needs of many sick and elderly people through a variety of medical and welfare services.
In a Japanese society where Catholics make up less than 1% of the population, there is a strong need for a place where the faithful can practice their faith and receive the sacraments. When the sick and elderly have a spiritual thirst, we stand by them with words of comfort, and to help the dying respond to the invitation to eternal life.
We want to spread the love of Christ, which gives hope to all who are battling disease, both in life and death.
Looking to the Future
The Japanese government has identified “health care at home” as a great issue in future health care policy.This policy is in line with the original ministry of our congregation has been doing since our founding, and we have made it one of our immediate priorities.
Formation of Successors and Apostolate
At present only few young people are entering our community. Therefore, we recognize the need to share our work with a trustworthy public in the future. Our goal is to gradually share the importance of the Gospel and the spirit of St. Francis in our formation.
And in the future, we hope that more sisters will be engaged in pastoral ministries, returning to the charism of the Society's founding and focusing on the underprivileged and poor, especially in order to fulfill our ministry of healing among them.
