The Olympic Games in 2020 will be held in Japan – a country famous for its hot springs and Mount Fuji, and the Emperor. I live in the easternmost part of Asia, in Kobe city in the Kansai region of Japan, and belong to the Japan Delegation, in the Korean Province. My name is Bro. Hasang Paul Jung Young Ho, and I have been the Prior of the St John of God Community since the Provincial Chapter.

I was sent to Japan in 2012 and studied the language for one year, and I work in the St. John`s Rehabilitation Centre for people with mental disabilities. My ability to hold a conversation is still limited but I am continuing to adapt all the time. Sometimes a mission to a community with different cultures, ways of viewing things, and ways of life can prove hard, and that is a great pity. The Catholic faith was first brought to Japan 465 years ago, but we have not yet evangelized 1% of the population, which makes our apostolic work difficult for us. These are the points which hamper our apostolic work. Our identity, however, including what has been given to us by God, is a guarantee for us, and the obstacles we encounter lead us to go even further than the well-managed work that we perform today.

When I started working in the centre, our guests did not take to me at all, but eventually we learned to laugh and our relationships changed spontaneously. Now I relate easily to with everyone and that is a source of joy to me. Communicating is still difficult, but with love and sincere relations with the guests’ loved ones, showing concern for their welfare, we manage to communicate to a certain degree. Jesus Christ and St. John of God had previously manifested God’s love with a warm heart, the I am sure that the Brothers are viewed as men with a great capacity to love their neighbour, and as excellent Hospitallers.

Our Japanese Community needs help to be able to serve the poor and the sick. Please pray for the people living in the most run-down areas. They are proud of our St John of God Community, which is their Hospitaller Family, and I could not wish anything more than to see the beautiful flowers of Hospitality blossoming for their good.