11/06/2026
Day 10 β 9 June
Today marked the final day of our pilgrimage in Japan.
Before our departure, the owners of the hotel once again came personally to bid us farewell. Together with their staff, they stood at the entrance of the hotel, warmly waving goodbye as we boarded our coach. Their hospitality throughout our stay had been exceptional, and their farewell reflected the genuine care they had shown us over the past few days.
Just before the bus departed, their son, who now manages the hotel, came aboard to thank us personally. He shared how happy his parents were to host our group. Apparently, we were the first organised group from Malaysia to stay at their hotel. While individual Malaysian guests may have visited before, ours was the first Malaysian group they had welcomed. His words made us feel especially honoured and appreciated.
We then began our journey towards Masuda City. Along the way, we stopped at Tsuwano, often referred to as the "Little Kyoto of Western Japan." Tsuwano also holds an important place in the history of Japanese Christianity. During the final persecutions of Christians in the nineteenth century, many believers from Urakami were exiled here and subjected to severe suffering because of their faith.
Some of the Christians were imprisoned in small wooden cages measuring only about three feet square. They were often left exposed to the cold weather with little clothing and endured tremendous hardships in an attempt to force them to renounce their faith. Despite these cruel conditions, many remained steadfast in their devotion to Christ.
Upon arriving in Tsuwano, we walked to Tsuwano Catholic Church, where we were warmly welcomed by Sr Margaret, who had kindly prepared the church for our visit and Mass. The parish priest, a Jesuit, was away attending a meeting and was therefore unable to join us.
During the homily, Fr Alvin Ng. SJ, noted the remarkable connection between the readings on the first day of our pilgrimage and those on our final day. Once again, we encountered the image of a widow who possessed almost nothing, yet was willing to share what little she had.
Drawing from the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola, Fr Alvin reminded us that the purpose of human life is to praise, reverence, and serve God. Everything we have and everything we are should ultimately lead us closer to Him.
Reflecting on the Gospel, he spoke about Jesus' call for His disciples to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." Salt enhances and preserves what it touches. Likewise, Christians are called to bring out the goodness in others and positively influence the world around them.
Light, on the other hand, serves a purpose only where there is darkness. Jesus Himself is the true Light of the World, and as His disciples, we are called to reflect His light to others through our words, actions, and witness.
Fr Alvin explained that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore possesses an inherent goodness. Our task is to nurture that goodness and allow it to shine forth in service to others.
He also reflected on the history of Christianity in Japan. Over the centuries, some Japanese Christians blended elements of Christianity with local customs and traditions as they sought to preserve their faith during times of persecution and isolation. While this sometimes led to practices differing from the Catholic faith, it also demonstrated the determination of many believers to keep some form of Christian identity alive despite immense challenges.
Father then shared a personal story about his own vocation journey.
As a student in a La Salle school, he initially hoped to become a La Salle Brother. However, at that time, the Brothers were not accepting candidates. Later, at the age of eighteen, after attending a vocation programme, he felt called to the priesthood. Yet he was advised that he was still too young and should continue discerning.
After completing his university studies, he worked for approximately ten years in the airline industry. During that period, the call to religious life remained in his heart.
Eventually, the vocation resurfaced strongly. Before accepting him, the Jesuit superior in Singapore encouraged him to continue discerning carefully, even suggesting that he meet and get to know young women to determine whether God might instead be calling him to marriage.
After submitting his resignation from work and preparing to enter religious life, Fr Alvin unexpectedly met a young woman and dated her for a period of time. However, despite this relationship, he found that his call to religious life and the priesthood remained stronger than ever. Eventually, they parted ways amicably, and he entered the Society of Jesus, beginning the journey that would ultimately lead him to the priesthood.
His story served as a reminder that discerning God's will often takes time, patience, and openness to wherever God may lead.
After Mass, Fr Alvin presented an omiyage (gift from Malaysia) to Sr Margaret as a token of our gratitude for her hospitality and assistance.
We then made our way up the hill to the Maria Seido Chapel. This sacred site commemorates the suffering of the Christians who were imprisoned and tortured during the Tsuwano persecutions.
Among the stories associated with the site is that of a prisoner named Yamasuta, who was confined in a cage and reportedly experienced an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that strengthened him in his suffering. Another moving story tells of a young Christian girl who was offered sweets and other incentives if she would renounce her faith, yet she courageously refused.
Standing at this place of suffering and witness, we reflected on the courage of those who remained faithful despite persecution and hardship.
We then continued our journey to Masuda, where we enjoyed our final lunch together as a pilgrimage group. During the meal, we shared farewell speeches and expressed our gratitude to our guide and coach driver, presenting them with small tokens of appreciation for their dedication and service throughout the pilgrimage.
After lunch, we proceeded to the airport for our journey home. With a transit through Tokyo's Haneda Airport, we eventually began our return to Malaysia.
As our pilgrimage came to an end, we carried home not only photographs and souvenirs, but also a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices of the missionaries, the courage of the martyrs, the perseverance of the Hidden Christians, and the enduring faith of the Catholic Church in Japan. May their witness continue to inspire us to remain faithful to Christ in our own daily lives.
