Bishops release a message for all churches in Japan about the Year of Faith proclaimed by Benedict XVI. Many challenges face Catholics, but "it is important to continue our efforts" to renew the faith and "promote the New Evangelisation".

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - The Year of Faith in Japan is a test to all Churches, especially that of Japan, which has many challenges that can be met by going back to a life of faith and to the blood of the martyrs, "foundation of the Church in Japan". This is the essence of the message that Japanese bishops have sent to all the churches across the country to celebrate the start of the Year of Faith proclaimed by Benedict XVI.

Titled The Challenges of the Church in Japan, the bishops' message said that "The Year of Faith [. . .] aims at preparing for future development, and renewing our life of faith based on the understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church."

"In the course of this Year," the text read, "we bishops in Japan would like to confirm the progress of evangelization in Japan over the last 50 years" and "promote the renewal of faith".

"This year of 2012," the statement added, "the Church in Japan commemorates the 150^th anniversary of the canonization of the 26 Martyrs of Japan and the resumption of missionary activities." Hence, "we must not forget that we have the same blood and faith as theirs while living in the modern world. As Blessed Pope John Paul II said in 1981 during his visit to Japan, the foundation of the Church in Japan is the blood of martyrs."

With such premises, we must "reflect on the amazing history of salvation that God prepared for Japan" as well as renew and confirm the faith in accordance with Benedict XVI.

To achieve such goals and promote the New Evangelisation, "it is important to continue our efforts to be renewed from within by the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit while reading the Bible, praying and sharing."

Japan has many challenges such as "the Great East Japan Earthquake, economic stagnation, a declining birth rate and an aging population, a frequent occurrence of suicides," which are due to wrong thinking based on materialism and the here-and-now.

By "listening to the voices of suffering people," we Catholics however can "share ideas with each other, and search for measures and expressions for [a] New Evangelization with people inside and outside of the Church."

 

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