Please take a look through Bulletin No.24
of Walking Together“.
This is a special edition celebrating Sr.
Shirahata’s 50 years of monastic vows.
On the left of page 1, is a photo of a card
from Holy Father, Francesco. On the right is a congratulatory greeting from St. Clare's
president Martha Hernandez and a photo of her and Sr. Shirahata.
The photo on page 2 is of St. Clare's Sr.Adriana Jurez Navarrete regional superior Sr Adriana JuarezNavarrete regional superior and the children of MageBureh. There is also a greeting from Sr.Adriana as well. Following is a
letter from Sr. Shirahata titled “Finishing the celebration mass for 50 years
of monastic vows”. Along with many thank you messages, she shares her words she
used in the mass. Sr. Shirahata was raised and grew up in a nice family and
spent her childhood going to church with her mother – not being able to answer the
Holy Father’s name. When she was in her 4th year in college, she met
for the first time a sister from St. Clare who was sent to Sierra Leone. She
heard many stories of Africa and was shocked to hear about the poverty. Wanting
to of help, she decided to join St. Clare and became a nun for 8 years, although
her family- especially the older of her twin sisters opposed. She was thankful
to have gotten trained by Maria Ines in Rome. After in 1974, she headed to
Sierra Leone, but the civil war stopped her from any activity. She was sent to
the US, but her heart remained in Sierra Leone and hoped to return. She was
able to return in May 2004, she learned so much from her experiences in Africa,
and notes that living in Sierra Leone is her happiness.
A photo of the parade after the 50 year
monastic vow mass with the Maria Ines Vocational Center band can be found on
page 3.
On page 4 is a photo of Sr.
Shirahata with the kindergarten children. There is a letter from 3 kindergarten
school teachers. It says that they are thankful for the effort put in to establishing
Tamagawa Shirayuri Kindergarten, which has now grown to have 350 children. Extra
thanks to Sr. Shirahata for her support as well as “Walking Together” for
funding lunch for the children. They will continue to do their best under the
direction of Sr. Esmeralda.
On page 5 is a report from Tsubasa Horii (4th
year at Saitama Medical University), who visited Sierra Leone for the 2nd
time in 2.5 years. Horii-san arrived on the morning for the 50 year
celebration. He touches on how active Sr. Shirahata is compared to when she is
in Japan, and also on Sr. Yoshida who came to the airport to pick him up.
He also notes that even though the staff in
the clinic are giving their best efforts, it is still difficult for the
children to get treatment. He also visited the school and saw the children
happy to study and to be served lunch. Horii-san expresses his desire to come
back to Sierra Leone, hopefully to be a doctor. The photo is Horii-san and the
clinic staff.
From the bottom left on page 6, are voices
from supporters. There is an announcement that it since Tsutako Tsurumi who
president for “Bouquet of Hope” passed away, and her organization which has
been supported for 18 years will dissolve.
From page 7 and on to page 8, there is a
note from Kuniko Nomoto, the headquarter
secretary, about her encounter with Sr. Shirahata. They first met in an airport
in Madrid in 1988, and have been having a great relationship up until today and
also touches on Sr. Shirahata’s personality.
The photo on the top left on page 8 is
Sr.Shirahata and Nomoto-san. The top right shows children of from the new
middle school built in Kailahun district. The bottom right are OLG high school students. Following
is information from headquarters and remittance status for support funds.
Unfortunately, June funds is turning out low and has not been sent. Also
touches on a letter that was sent from Father Emmanuel, the principle for RC,
stating their difficulties and the status of support goods not being sent yet.
In the editorial note is a letter from Yoshiko Hotta, who lives in
Ghana, and also a photo or Sr. Yoshida.
(Copy:Hiroko
Gotoh, Translation:Ayako Nokuo)