A two-day seminar on migrants organised by the Welcome House, the Sapporo diocesan organisation to support migrants, was held in Sapporo on last Friday and Saturday in cooperation with the Catholic Commission for Migrants, Refugees and Itinerant People headed by Bishop Tani of Saitama. Main theme of the seminar was " The formation of children connected to other countries". Those who have been working for the youth education of children of foreign origin gave reports on their activities in Hokkaido to more than 60 participants from the Tokyo Ecclesiastical Province which comprises Catholic dioceses of Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama, Niigata, Sendai and Hokkaido. Niigata diocese was represented by 3 delegates led by Fr. Hubert, OFM of Naoetsu who is the chairman of the diocesan committee. On Saturday morning, participants gathered together in the Sapporo Cathedral for Mass presided by myself. After the Mass, Bishop Tani gave a talk on migrant issue and Catholic Church referring to the instruction of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, "Erga migrantes caritas Christi (The love of Christ towards migrants)" which had been prepared by the then chairman of the Council, late Cardinal Hamao . Thanks for those who prepared the seminar, especially the staff member of the Welcome House. Photo above is Bishop Tani giving his talk.
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