Sorry for this belated Christmas greetings. I had a wonderful Christmas celebration with parishioners of Niigata Cathedral. I presided over 24th 8pm Mass and 25th 10am Mass. It was terribly cold in Niigata but many people including quite a number of non-Christians joined the community for the celebration.
Any how, I wish all of you a very merry Christmas. First and most , on behalf of Niigata and Sapporo dioceses, I would like to thank all of you for your dedicated service and contribution to Church activities throughout the year 2011, especially your willingness to do something for victims of March 11 disaster. Thank you so much. As for supporting these victims, we have to continue to remember them in our prayer and maintain our willingness to be with them. Next year, 2012, Niigata diocese is celebrating 100 anniversary of establishment. So I ask you to pray for Niigata diocese. Also kindly pray for Sapporo diocese so that they may get their new bishop as soon as possible.
Then on behalf of Caritas Asia, I would like to thank all of you for your wonderful cooperation and contribution for activities of Caritas Asia throughout year 2011 which, we may say, a year of
continuous natural calamities. I hope and pray that the light which will be shinning in darkness tonight as we celebrate the mystery of incarnation of Word of God may reach all the people affected by these disasters through our work and prayer.
Also on behalf of Caritas Japan, I would like to thank you sincerely for your kind words and contribution for victims of March 11 disaster in Japan. We are all grateful to your significant ways to show your solidarity with us. Kindly continue to remember us in your prayer.
Caritas Asia finally appointed Mr. Eleazar Gomez from Philippines and a member of NASSA as our next regional coordinator. He will take his post by 1 February in Bangkok. Fr. Bonnie Mendes, our present regional coordinator, will be with the office in Bangkok till the end of February. I welcome Mr. "Zar" Gomez sincerely and thank Fr. Bonnie for his dedicated service for all of us. I am sure we all have more chance to work with Fr. Bonnie in Caritas activities.
I wish you a Happy New Year.
Yours,
Bishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD
President, Caritas Asia & Caritas Japan
Bishop of Niigata
Apostolic administrator of Sapporo
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