Welcome to Fukuoka Kaisei.  I am very glad to meet you all from Sacred Heart Covent School.  And I am very grateful to all the staff of both schools who have organized such wonderful ceremony for us all.  I am sure this exchange will broaden our view of the world, leading us to becoming a “Piece of Peace,” during this difficult period of conflicts and wars, especially between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel Gaza.          

Our school is founded by Franciscan Missionary of Mary in 1964.  F.M.M. sent five sisters out of 1,000 candidates to Japan 125 years ago.   They came to Kumamoto, Japan, on ship, to become friends of Hansen disease patients, saying “yes” to the calling from Jesus, “Go look after them.”   They only brought Big Love of Jesus with them, without any qualification for taking care of those patients.   Though they must have had difficulties getting used to the language, the custom, and the life in Japan, they tried their best to fulfill their missions from God, from which we must learn a lot about how we should live our lives.      

As you saw the panel of the feet in their hands at the entrance of our school, the five sisters started to wash the feet of Hansen disease patients like Jesus did, who were deserted by their family, friends, and all the people in the society.  They brought Great Love from Jesus to those abandoned patients and took good care of their lives, washing the feet nobody had ever touched by hand before.     

Getting lots of support from foreign countries, F.M.M. built hospitals, facilities for the old and little children, and schools.  And Fukuoka Kaisei is one of the schools they built within the course of this flow.  And that’s how their places of missionary gradually expanded, sisters sowing small mustard seeds, “whenever, wherever and whoever.”   And thanks to the five sisters‘ “Yes” to Jesus, Fukuoka Kaisei stands strong on the green hill of Roji, Fukuoka, and with its mission on its back, now celebrates 60^th anniversary of its foundation.

Our school motto with this root, is “Seek truth through love.” About 700 kids and students are learning on this vast and green campus.  So, we have little babies, children and students, aging from 0 to 18 on the same campus. Blessed and knowing that they are allowed to live by Jesus, our students will surely dedicate themselves to others, listen to the Bible, and say “yes” to the calling from God.  

Thank you again for coming to Fukuoka Kaisei.  We welcome you as a member of Kaisei family.  Please make yourself at home and enjoy talking with your Japanese friends, teachers, and your homestay. 

Though our steps to peace are perhaps small and invisible to human beings, Jesus knows us, watches us and encourages us to be the ones to make peace. As Catholic School members, with Great Love, together, let’s become a “Piece of Peace” for people around us, through this exchange.  

In my prayer, Amen.