Walking
Together Bulletin No. 50
P1
“EVERY ACADEMIC
YEAR BRINGS NEW HOPE”
NOVEMBER14,
2025
Sr. Josephine
Kamara – Regional Superior
On September 8th 2025, according to the
Ministry of Education’s calendar, schools nationwide should have reopened, but
unfortunately this was not possible due to a strike action by the National
Teachers Union. The major reason being: the demand for better working conditions.
Teachers are poorly paid and most of them are not approved by Government, so
they do not receive a salary but rather a stipend from the parents and school
administration. After negotiations between the Union and the Government,
schools finally reopened a week later, that is on the 15th September
2025.
As a tradition of the school, each new academic year is
welcomed with a Holy Mass celebrated in the Parish Church and in which all the
pupils participate; to thank God for the gift of life and the opportunity given
to us to start afresh. Since the reopening of schools, we have as always
concentrated in making a positive impact in the life of our pupils. We have
planned in accordance with the calendar of the Ministry of Education various
activities to be carried out during the academic year. This year 2025 – in
December we shall have Thanksgiving celebrations at the different levels of the
school for various anniversaries:
·
35th Anniversary of Tamagawa
Shirayuri Kindergarten, Lunsar
·
60th Anniversary of Our Lady of
Guadalupe Secondary School, Lunsar
·
65th Anniversary of Our Lady of
Guadalupe Primary Elementary School, Lunsar.
In all these, we would like to thank God for and honor
the missionary Sisters who have given their lives and energy in the service of
the people of Sierra Leone; among them is Sr. Bernadette Shirahata who is still
serving in this mission. Since 1960, the Sisters have worked so hard to change
the lives of thousands of girls nationwide and they in turn are now changing
lives in and outside Sierra Leone. For this reason we are really very grateful
to God, to the congregation and to our many benefactors/supporters.
We are really hopeful that through education we will
continue to make a difference in the lives of our pupils.
Thank you.
“TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE WALKING TOGETHER
ASSOCIATION”
NOVEMBER 10, 2025
BY SISTER KAZUKO SHIRAHATA
On October 11th, about 40 kindergarten teachers and their children boarded two minibuses for a picnic at the beach. It took two and a half hours, but the teachers were delighted and sang songs the whole time. Because the water was deep at the beach, we made sure to stay within two meters. We played there, ate, and then played games and sang songs until 3:30 p.m. The day before, Sister Esmeralda prepared chicken, popcorn, and soft drinks. I bagged the popcorn. We returned to Lunsar around 6:30 p.m. It's a once-a-year trip, but everyone was happy, it didn't rain, and it was a wonderful day.
On October 22nd, Sisters Blanca and Angela, one candidate, and
one middle and high school dorm mother went to Rome for the Inesian Family
International Conference. The candidate obtained a visa in Italy and was
scheduled to travel to Mexico afterward. Please pray for her, that she may
remain faithful to her religious vocation until the end. From October 24th to
31st, I spent a week of retreat at the Lunghi Monastery with six other sisters.
The father held a conference and celebrated Mass once a day, but I spent the
rest of the time talking to God and praying the rosary as I chose. The week
felt very short.
November 1st was All Saints' Day. It was also the anniversary of
Sister Negishi's death. I felt the presence of Representative Kanno and others
visiting the grave. November 2nd was Day of Dead, and after Mass, the father
and the faithful came to the monastery garden and prayed for the deceased
Sister Rosa Maria and Sister Negishi. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the
town's memorial.
When we are fortunate, we do not get carried away, and when we
are unlucky, we do not blame fate. Instead, we think about how much we have done
to be ourselves within the circumstances we have been given. Our possessions,
our lives, our families, our sorrows and joys—all of these will eventually fade
away in the flow of time in our relationship with God. God gave me this day and
continues to keep me alive. Whether you are working on a big project or a small
one, may the work you have done today bring joy to God and your humble
endurance become an offering.
To those walking alongside me: I pray that God will always
bestow His grace upon you and your family.
Sister Shirahata.
“I THIRST”
～ SISTER KAZUKO SHIRAHATA’S
YOUNG DAYS AND TODAY ～
BY TOMOKO KANATA – KOBE COLLEGE
My first visit to the Lunsar monastery was in the summer of
2006. I met the late Sister Negishi by chance on a flight from Brussels to
Freetown, and she invited me to visit the Catholic monastery in Lunsar. I took
her up on her offer and visited Lunsar while in Sierra Leone, where I first met
Sister Shirahata (hereafter referred to as Shirahata-san). Since then, I have
stayed at the Lunsar monastery several times and have had the opportunity to
interact with Shirahata-san.
In late August 2025, I returned to Lunsar for the first time in
several years. My husband (Takehiko Ochiai) was conducting a maternal and child
health survey in Lunsar, so I decided to conduct a life story interview with
Shirahata-san. I wanted to hear more about how she joined the monastic order
and why she decided to live a life of service in Sierra Leone, far from Japan.
When I shared my thoughts with Shirahata-san, she kindly accepted, and I
recorded her story on video. She also agreed to make the recording public. Here
are some of them.
Shirahata-san was born in Tokyo in 1941 as the second of five
siblings. Despite being the second daughter, her sister was an identical twin,
and the two were always together. They apparently enjoyed a very close
relationship from childhood until Shirahata-san joined the monastic order. Her
family is a lineage of doctors dating back to the Edo period, and both her
father and brother were also active physicians. Influenced by her
mother, who cherished her Christian faith, Shirahata-san attended church from a
young age and was baptized Catholic along with her twin sister in her first
year of junior high school.
By this time, the family had already moved from Tokyo to
Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture. Later, when Shirahata-san's younger brother
entered Azabu Junior High School with the goal of becoming a doctor, their
father arranged for them to live in a new home in Azabu, Tokyo, and hired a
maid. From there, Shirahata-san attended the University of the Sacred Heart
with her twin sister, learning tea ceremony, flower arranging, and cooking, and
living the life of a true young lady.
A major turning point came for Shirahata-san while she was a
student at the University of the Sacred Heart. An Italian siting the university
told her about the situation in Sierra Leone. Shirahata-san recalls, "I
didn't even know the name of the country, Sierra Leone. But I learned that
children couldn't go to school and sometimes died because they had nothing to
eat." She also says that she was captivated by the "poverty of Sierra
Leone."
Upon learning about the poverty-stricken children of Sierra
Leone, Shirahata-san (a young lady) who had grown up in a wealthy family with
no hardships up until that point, a desire to go to Africa for missionary work
quietly began to grow in her heart. However, it wasn't easy to convey this
desire to her family. When asked, "How did your twin sister react when you
told her you were joining a religious order?" she replied, "My sister
stopped going to church for six months. I guess she thought that would mean I
wouldn't join. The hardest thing for me was having my sister, the person
closest to me, oppose my decision to join."
P4
Even so, Shirahata-san's determination to join the order and to
serve in Africa remained unwavering. After graduating from university, she
worked in the library at her alma mater, the University of the Sacred Heart,
for a year. Then, despite her family's objections, she finally joined the order
in March 1965. Immediately after joining, she apparently sent a letter to the
General Headquarters in Rome expressing her desire to serve in Africa. However,
it wasn't until nine years later, in March 1974, that her wish was fulfilled.
When I asked Shirahata-san, "How did you feel when you
found out you were going to Africa?" she answered simply, "I felt
relieved." When her assignment to Sierra Leone was confirmed, her father
covered all of her travel expenses, despite the monastic order's financial
difficulties. This episode shows the deep love of her family, who were opposed to her joining the
organization.
With the exception of a period during and after the conflict
(1995-2004), Shirahata-san spent nearly 50 years working at the Lunsar Monastic
Order, devoting herself to the education of children, working in kindergartens
and elementary schools. During her time away from Sierra Leone, even while
posted to places like California, she prayed daily for permission to return to
Sierra Leone as soon as possible.
when I asked her, "Why is Sierra Leone so good?" she
replied, "The people are nice. It may be poor, but the people here are
nice."
By the way, the scripture verse that resonates most with
Shirahata-san right now is "I thirst," uttered by Jesus on the cross.
When I asked her why, she said "The 'thirst' here is spiritual, not
material. I'm a missionary myself, so I want to save and help people through my
life. But now I can't get out much. That's why I want to help more people
spiritually." In the past, when children were absent from school for
several days, he would walk several kilometers to visit their homes. At age 83,
Shirahata-san is no longer physically capable of doing so. But her desire to
"serve poor children" remains unchanged. In fact, that desire may be
even stronger than it was in her younger days. This is why I feel that
Shirahata-san feels even more strongly about the scripture "I
thirst." This is what I felt during the interview I conducted during my
return visit to Lunsar.
“ARTICLE ON THE PRE-COLONIAL SYSTEM IN SIERA
LEONE
FOCUSING ON POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS”
BY MR. ALIMAMY JOSEPH CONTEH, HISTORY TEACHDR AT
OLG JUIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The
Pre-Colonial System in Sierra Leone
Before the
arrival of Europeans and the establishment of colonial rule, Sierra Leone had a
rich and complex pre-colonial system characterized by strong political
organization, vibrant social structures, active economic exchanges, and deeply
rooted religious beliefs. Each ethnic group—from the Mende and Temne to the
Limba, Loko, and
Sherbro—developed its own traditional systems of governance and culture that
guided their daily lives.
1. Political
System
In pre-colonial
Sierra Leone, politics was largely decentralized and based on kinship and
chieftaincy. Each ethnic group had its own form of political organization, but
leadership was commonly rooted in traditional authority and lineage.
Among the Mende
and Temne, the chiefdom was the highest political unit, headed by a paramount
chief who ruled with the advice of elders and council members. These chiefs
were custodians of the land, peacekeepers, and judges who ensured justice
within their territories. The chief’s authority was balanced by the council of
elders or secret societies such as the Poro (for men) and Sande (for women),
which played vital roles in advising and regulating leadership.
In smaller
communities such as the Limba and Kono, political authority was more
egalitarian, and decision-making was often collective. The pre-colonial
political systems were guided by respect for tradition, communal participation,
and social order, ensuring stability long before colonial intervention.
2. Social
System
Social
organization in pre-colonial Sierra Leone was based on kinship, family lineage,
and communal living. Families were extended, and every member had defined roles
and responsibilities. Men were traditionally responsible for farming, hunting,
and defense, while women played major roles in domestic affairs, trade, and the
upbringing of children.
Society was
hierarchical, with classes including nobles, commoners, and sometimes bonded
servants or slaves, especially in larger kingdoms. However, even within these
divisions, the community spirit was strong. People supported one another through
collective farming, building projects, and communal ceremonies.
The Poro and
Sande societies were central to social life. These institutions educated young
people on cultural values, discipline, respect, and community responsibilities.
They also helped maintain moral order and unity within the society. Marriage,
festivals, and initiation ceremonies were important social events that
strengthened community bonds.
3. Economic
System
Economically,
pre-colonial Sierra Leone was self-sufficient and based on agriculture, trade,
and craft production. The fertile soil and favorable climate made farming the
backbone of the economy. The main crops included rice, cassava, yam, millet,
and palm oil. Communities practiced subsistence farming, but they also engaged
in trade with neighboring regions.
Trade played a
major role, both locally and regionally. Farmers exchanged foodstuffs, hunters
traded animal skins and meat, and craftsmen sold iron tools, pottery, and
textiles. Coastal groups such as the Sherbro were involved in trade with
European and African merchants, exchanging goods like salt, ivory, and kola
nuts.
Wealth in
society was measured by land ownership, livestock, and trade connections. The
economic system promoted interdependence among communities and encouraged
peaceful relationships through trade and cooperation.
4. Religious
System
Religion in
pre-colonial Sierra Leone was deeply spiritual and tied to every aspect of
life. Most people practiced African Traditional Religion, which centered on the
belief in a Supreme Being, ancestral spirits, and nature gods. They believed
that ancestors played a role in guiding and protecting the living, and
offerings or sacrifices were made to seek blessings or forgiveness.
Religious
leaders, such as priests, diviners, and herbalists, held respected positions in
society. They mediated between the spiritual and physical worlds, interpreted
dreams, and offered healing through traditional medicine. Sacred places like
groves, rivers, and mountains were seen as dwelling places of spirits and were
treated with great reverence.
Religion was
not separate from governance or social life; it shaped moral behavior, guided
justice, and united the community during festivals and rituals. Later, Islam
began to spread through trade and contact with Muslim merchants, particularly
in the north, influencing local customs and belief systems.
Conclusion
The
pre-colonial system of Sierra Leone was a well-structured and balanced society
where politics, social organization, economy, and religion worked hand in hand.
Leadership was respected, community cooperation was strong, the economy was
self-reliant, and religion provided moral and spiritual guidance. These
indigenous systems laid the foundation for the cultural identity and unity of
Sierra Leoneans long before colonial rule disrupted traditional governance.
Even today, many elements of the pre-colonial system—such as chieftaincy,
secret societies, and communal living—continue to shape modern Sierra Leonean
society.
“IN MEMORY OF MR. KUNIAKI SATO”
BY TOSHIKO AKAMATSU,
HEADQUARTERS COMMITTEE MEMBER
I believe my first intimate
conversation with Mr. Kuniaki Sato was three years ago during an accounting
audit. We worked in pairs to check for errors in the monthly donation receipts
compiled by our accountant, Ms. Maruyama, and in the records of the "Walking
Together Association." As a first-time audit committee member, I was
deeply impressed by Mr. Sato's careful and efficient work, and by the sheer
number of supporters we have across the country.
I had been looking forward to
meeting Mr. Sato on the audit day, September 8th, this year, but I was shocked
to learn that he passed away a few days ago and that his funeral was on
September 7th.
Representative Kanno and Mr. Sato
were classmates from their first year at Tamagawa University. After graduation,
they both taught at their alma mater, and I heard that Mr. Sato was an
excellent science teacher.
Mr. Sato created a "basket
windmill" out of bamboo that grows naturally on Tamagawa Gakuen school
grounds, and it was used to promote school lunch donations for children in
Sierra Leone. The bamboo was shaved to a width of 3mm, and four pieces were
woven together to create a round basket measuring 1cm and 1.5cm in diameter.
Two cute square pieces of chiyogami paper, measuring 1cm and 1.5cm, were
attached to the ends of eight bamboo stalks radiating from the basket, creating
blades. A bamboo skewer was threaded through the center of the basket and
secured to a 20cm disposable chopstick. This adorable windmill spins when you
blow air into the front or side of the blades.
Mr. Sato's daily routine was to
make one of these windmills a day, and I heard he made over 3,000 of them. My
own basket windmill at home continues to spin.
Thank you so much, Mr. Sato, for
all your hard work over the years.
OBISTUARIES
Ms.Fumie
Masuda
Mr.Akira
Yoneyama
Mr.Kiyoshi
Denpoya
Mr.Kotaro
Nishi
Ms.Keiko
Yamaguchi
In the three months since the publication of Newsletter No. 49,
we have received obituaries from the families of the five individuals mentioned
above. All of these people provided unfailing support over the years, and
although I never met them in person, their names are unforgettable. We pray
that God will grant abundant comfort to each of their families. The photo above
shows us praying for Sister Negishi and others’s eternal rest at Lunsa's grave.
VOICES FROM OUR SUPPSRTERS
💙The
Japanese summer was so hot that I couldn't move as I wanted. I pray for Sr.
Shirahata's example of selfless love and for her to fulfill her calling. How is
the weather in Sierra Leone? I hope you all stay healthy. M.T.
💙Thank
you for newsletter issue 49. I hope I can continue to provide the necessary
support for children for many years to come. I am grateful for meeting the
"Walking Together Association." K.K.
💙Although
it's only a small amount each time, I hope to continue so that this small well
never dries up. As long as possible... K.K.
💙
Thank you for sending me the newsletter. The students and alumni of OLG School
are the "Seeds of Hope" of Sierra Leone. I look forward to your
continued support. N.T. 💙The "Financial Report" reveals your
sincere and steady efforts to ensure that no donations are wasted, and it is a
humbling feeling. I know you must be working hard, but I appreciate your
continued support. N.M.
💙Thank you for your newsletter. I was worried because I saw a mention of Sr. Shirahata in the "Voice from Supporters" section. I wonder if her feeling unwell? Y.T.
💙Thank you for sending me the newsletter (financial
report). I'm grateful that we were able to achieve our goal and finish the
fiscal year safely. I pray for your health. M.S.
💙I
pray for the health of Sr. Shirahata and everyone at headquarters. Y.S.
💙Thank
you for Newsletter 49 and the end-of-year financial report. Even though various
domestic and international circumstances have made it difficult to provide
overseas aid, the kindness of so many people this year has given us a deep
sense of hope.
💙Thank
you for your newsletter 49 and year-end financial report. Even as overseas aid
has become more difficult due to various domestic and international
circumstances, the generosity of so many people this year has given me a deep
sense of hope. Now more than ever, we are reminded of the preciousness of
"walking together." We offer our heartfelt support for your
activities in the new fiscal year. Y.T.
💙Thank you for your informative newsletter 49. I am
pleased to be a part of the expansion and deepening of our efforts over the
years, even if it is just a small contribution. Y.N.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HEADQUARTERS
◆The 2026 General Meeting
(September 2025 - August 2026) was held on Saturday, September 13th from 2:00pm
to 3:40pm. Nine members attended, nine members attended by proxy (responding to
the survey), and one member was absent due to illness.
〇 The
2025 activity report, financial statement, and 2026 activity plan and budget
proposal were all unanimously approved. Since sufficient opinions were gathered
through a preliminary consultation questionnaire, the discussions were
productive. Please refer to the insert in Newsletter No. 49 for the main agenda
items, including the financial statement, annual report, and budget proposal.
〇This
year's headquarters committee members are as follows:
Representative: Katsujiro Kanno Vice Representative: Yoshinori
Kasuga
Scribe: Kuniko Nomoto
Accounting officers: Hiroko
Maruyama and Makoto Maruyama
Secretariat: Yoko Kanno
(These six members are in charge of general affairs.) Headquarters Staff:
Atsuko Okano, Marta Tanaka, Ayako Yamamoto
Accounting Auditors: Toshiko
Akamatsu, Fumie Amano, Yukiko Kasuga
Advisory Committee: Kyoko
Okada, Hiroko Goto, Kimiko Howell, Midori Hamamoto,
Chiaki
Yoshihara, Yoko Yoneoka, Kyoko Waki
▼ On
November 14th, we transferred a total of 2 million yen, including 1.8 million
yen for three months' worth of school lunch support, 100,000 yen for special
lunches, and 100,000 yen for Christmas gifts. Until last year, we transferred
the funds in February, but this year we were able to transfer the funds before
Christmas, so we are grateful.
▼On November 23rd, we invited Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich, who have
recovered, to discuss the resumption of container transport. We have confirmed
the local situation and will announce the details of our donation collection in
the next newsletter. It's been a long wait, but we are excited to finally see a
step forward.
Editor's Note: We
are truly grateful to be able to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with the
children and sisters of Sierra Leone, and with all of our supporters. Thank you
so much for the past year. Please take care of yourself. I pray for abundant
blessings. (Katsujiro Kanno)
Pictures:
P1: Junior
high school dormitory students who have just finished the opening mass of the
new school year are wearing their church uniforms.
P3:
Interview with Sr Shirahata by Ms. Kanata.
P4:
(1) Graduation photo of Sr. Shirahata and her sister from Sacret Heart
University.
(2) Sr. Shirahata in her young days.
P5:
Teacher Alimamy J. Conteh
P7:
Mr. Kuniaki Sato holding a basket windmill
P8:
(1) From left, Sr. Sandra, Professor Kanata, Sr. Shirahata and Sr. Josephine
(2) Playing of the melodica is also improving day by day.
(3) The children continue to work hard today, never forgetting
their gratitude.
(Translation
by A. Yamamoto)