Celebrating Advent in Japan

IBARAKI PREFECTURE, JAPAN—As Christmas draws near, Filipinos and Catholics in Japan are also celebrating the Advent Season.

Last December 1, first Sunday of Advent Filipinos in Japan took delight to have Filipino priests from the Archdiocese of Davao Fr. Lando Mandreza and Fr. Elneri Meñez as celebrants of the Holy Eucharist at the Tsukuba Catholic Church here.

In his homily, Fr. Mandreza, the main celebrant told the congregation that though celebration of Christmas for Filipinos starts as early as September, the liturgical calendar still falls on the Season of Advent, which is the season of waiting for the birth of Christ.

He said that the songs sang during the Mass should also jive with the season, thus no Christmas songs should be sang yet until the 24th of December.

He also encouraged the liturgical ministers in the said Church to always make sure that the liturgical celebration especially the songs will be well-prepared and proper for the season.

Meanwhile, recognizing that Filipinos living in Japan are mostly migrant workers, Fr. Mandreza said that with Christmas fast approaching, he is certain that they are missing their families they left at home.

He said that he hopes that as Advent that entails preparation for the coming of the Lord, they too should prepare their hearts by receiving the sacraments and forgiving their family members whom they have never talked to.

As his way of thanking the parish for allowing them to officiate mass and the Filipinos who volunteer their services to the parish who initiated the plan, Fr. Mandreza rendered an OPM song entitled Sana Ngayong Pasko which brought some Filipinos present to tears.

Fr. Mandreza is in Japan for a short vacation to visit his brother. Joining him are Fr. Meñez and some lay friends from Davao.