Congratulations everyone on the occasion of our Church Festival!

St. Ignatius Church, with its international characteristics, holds Masses in Japanese, English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Portuguese, and Polish. Today, people from these diverse backgrounds have come together to celebrate Mass and give thanks to God for His blessings. This year, there is no limit to the number of people, and we are on livestream in Our Lady's Chapel, in Joseph Hall, and on the lawn, with as many as 1,500 participants. This is a great joy and today's Communion song are the very words that celebrate this International Mass.

“Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:17)

First of all, let us give thanks to God for giving us this festive celebration. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked hard to make us all celebrate this year's Church Festival, especially those who have supported and have worked “behind the scenes.” Thank you very much!

This year's Church Festival is being celebrated with the theme, "Let's Walk Together – Towards the 25th Anniversary and Beyond." Three prayers and desires are included here. The first one is related to this year’s Church theme, “Let us connect with Jesus, accept each other, and walk together to the Father’s house.” This theme itself is a prayer and a desire, but this can only be realized if we are "connected to Jesus," who is with us. When we hear the words “connected to Jesus,” the “Parable of the Grape Vine'' in John's Gospel immediately comes to mind.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (cf. John 15:5)

On the other hand, today's Scripture reading is from the Book of Isaiah, in which Isaiah accuses the people of Israel of producing sour grapes instead of good grapes, going against the care and expectations of God. This passage from Isaiah’s prophecy, along with the Parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew’s Gospel) who refused to produce the seasonal harvest that God expected was read. When we read them, the words of Jesus resonate strongly in our hearts. “I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.” May we stay connected to Jesus and bear good fruit. This is the first prayer and desire.

The second prayer and desire relate to the 25th Anniversary of the Dedication of our Church and the vision beyond, while the third relates to the Synod that began at the Vatican in Rome last October 4.

St. Ignatius Church celebrated its dedication in June 1999, the 450th anniversary of Francis Xavier's visit to Japan, so next year will be the 25th Anniversary of its dedication.

This year's church festival is mindful of the celebration of that Dedication, and it encourages us to take it as a step to 'go beyond' and to walk together.

“Beyond'' does not only mean the future in terms of time, but it also encourages us to proceed with structural and qualitative conversion in our way of doing and thinking toward “Mission 2030'' (Prayer, Communication, Connection, and Walking Together) while “our home, the earth” is undergoing significant changes.

On the other hand, "The Church Walking Together" is the fundamental attitude that the Synod emphasizes. The St. Ignatius Church theme for this year’s Church Festival is based on the spirit of the Synod calling us to “Walk Together” and to strive for the realization of a community after COVID-19.

So, when we say "Walking Together," who are we walking with? Is it with our fellow church members? This is also important. In the Parable of the Grape Vine a while ago, we are walking with Jesus who is always with us.

This is a fundamental proposition. Based on this proposition, the Synod and our faith are calling for a renewed awareness that the Church is walking with all people living on earth, beyond the framework of fellow believers, and inviting us to live it out in practice. The Church is one Body, with Jesus as its head, but it is 'God's people on a journey' with humanity.

The Synod seeks to walk together on the path of discerning the "signs of the times" guided by the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that we too, can walk together on the path that "Mission 2030" shows us and build a church community after Covid-19. Finally, let us offer our prayers and aspirations to the Holy Spirit in the Official Synod Prayer, so that we may read the “signs of the times,” both as individuals and as a community.

“Prayer for the Synod on Synodality” (Adsumus Sancte Spiritus)

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity

So that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth And what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time,

In the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

SJ October 8, 2023