Everywhere: Men With a Mission

Having been in Japan for almost three years, this is the first time I have participated in the annual retreat with the community. In previous years, I stayed behind because I was busy with Japanese classes at Nanzan University of the SVD. That said, this is actually my second annual retreat this year, since in July I returned to Vietnam to join the MSCs there for the Gifted and Blessed retreat as a member of the Australian Province.

This time, there were 15 of us, including Fr. Edwin, the Provincial of the MSC Philippines, who was visiting the two Filipino MSCs that had long been in Japan (Fr. Joey Mission and Fr. Rey Tibon).

The retreat venue was familiar to most of us. Many have come here annually for decades, long before I was born. It is one of the best places to view Mt. Fuji in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. Yet no matter how familiar it becomes, the breathtaking beauty of that sacred, iconic mountain never fades. Even though they say it may explode someday, perhaps that is the charm of eternity, ever alive, ever new.

Every day, two conferences were held by Fr. Bram: a more exploratory session in the morning and a more contemplative one in the afternoon. After our individual morning reflections, we gathered in small groups to share. In the afternoons, we celebrated Mass together, and at night, we concluded with Eucharistic adoration. For me, those quiet moments before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament were truly special.

A meaningful addition this year was the companionship of our recently canonised saint, Peter ToRot. Inspired and guided by his witness, we engaged in reflection and prayer on the theme: “MEN WITH A MISSION.” It seems that each of us once responded with the same generous and trusting reply, “Here I am, Lord,” just like the eager young Samuel. And from that first Yes, many more have followed. We have allowed God to guide us, planting us into His field, this land of Japan with its unique characteristics. Here, whether someone has been on mission for more than six decades or is as new as I am, we all walk the same path—the path of the seed that is sown into the earth and dies in order to bear fruit.

We are called to embrace the humility of a seed buried in deep soil, reflecting the mystery of Nazareth, the cost of silent martyrdom—silent but not shut off. Fragile seeds carry within them the spirituality of the heart and the light of hope. The life of St. Peter To Rot offers us great encouragement. He is the fruit of the MSC mission in Papua. Although the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, it has grown into a tree where the birds of the sky can rest. And that seed, even though it never saw the day the mustard plant reached the light, already partook in joy at the very moment it generously surrendered itself.

For each of us, the story of the seed and the path of mission is not about immediate visible results but a call to faithfulness. We must be faithful and strive to stay faithful until the end. Despite our fragility and weakness, we once again wish to answer as Peter did when the Lord asked: “Do you love me, more than these?” For it is the love of Christ that drives us.

Out there, in the distance, Mt. Fuji stood as always—beautiful and captivating, though sometimes hidden behind clouds. Yet the mountain endures, certain through the ages. And in that moment, I felt I understood something: God’s faithfulness is far more beautiful and much more steadfast than that.

We ended the retreat with gratitude and hope by reciting our vows after Mass. We also formally made a missionary sending salute for Fr. Kenji. Although his trip to New Zealand will only last six months to support the Vietnamese MSCs in establishing and stabilising their new community, as a small community like Japan with limited personnel, sending one member out in this way is truly communal—and deeply meaningful. Ubique!

Le Dinh Vinh Toan, MSC (Vietnam)