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IN JAPAN
July 20, 1951 : arrival of three Canadian brothers in Japan. They are welcomed by the Marianist
Brothers and Fathers in Yokohama. The province of Pointe-du-Lac, Canada, promises to send, during the first 10 years, three new brothers a year. The promise will be kept. Twenty years later, in 1971, 44 brothers will have been assigned to the mission.
Rapidly, the FIC Japanese mission is well organized with three main establishments that still exist today:
St.Mary’s International School, in Tokyo, opened in 1954 for the children of foreigners living in Tokyo. The school accepts also Japanese students and operates like an American school.
Seiko Gakuin (Holy Light) High School, in Yokohama, a Japanese school, renowned and concerned about excellence. On the same property, we find a kindergarten, the Sayuri Yochien (the Lily), also quite appreciated by the parents, and an FIC vocational center.
Shizuoka Seiko Gakuin, in Shizuoka, opened to a more-self-effacing population than that of Yokohama.
In these three institutions, the brothers insist particularly on the evangelizing dimension of their mission.
- a grand and beautiful chapel, in the middle of the campus, opened to students and parents for some traditional celebrations (wedding, funerals,...)
- for all the students, Christians and non-Christians, celebration of some Christian religious feasts: (the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, the Ash Wednesday, the Founder’s Day);
- Bible research for all, catechism for the Catholics and catechumens.
In 1987, a team made up of 3 brothers leaves Japan to set up in the Philippines. In spite of a great effort to promote vocational ministry, there are only two Japanese brothers in the Vice-Province. The other brothers, 20 of them, are mainly Canadians.
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