What I want to study in the future.

I want to study for an M.A. in English so I can learn how to write more effectively. My goal is to write about the life of the Japanese priest Fr. Masachika TeradaMori. He was ordained by the diocese in 1960 after receiving an M.A. from Sophia a University in Tokyo. He was then sent to earn his doctorate in Rome, Italy, in 1963, which was the second year of The Second Vatican Council. He could earn his doctorate and returned to Japan, where he was sent to the Nagoya diocese.

The Second Vatican Council encouraged the Catholic Church to open buildings for the community. He got approval from the bishop church and started to build buildings for people to gather. The community culture center had many classes like music, languages, dance, and many courses which local people wanted. Ten years later, the vocational language school opened. He worked for the church and the community for 61 years before passing away in 2021. After he died, the church’s idea changed, and all four buildings were demolished along with the trees and flowers that were around. Right now, there are no names of the priest or the buildings that he built. There are no memorial words or anything on the earth where he and students gathered. His life was like that of the man who planted trees in the creative story by the French author Jean Giono. He served the people for many years, but his work is in danger of being forgotten. Not only for this priest, but I would also like to write for the instructors and the students, and the supporters who gathered at the facilities in the churchyard.

Many people, including myself, were helped by him, so I want to show him and others that we remember him and his help to us. Even if I can write about him and am able to make a booklet about his work and ideas, I may die soon and people might forget about him and what he did, and the booklet may even disappear. However, even if only for a short time, I would like to keep his memory alive. It’s okay if the booklet exists for only a short time. At least I, the person making the booklet, will be content because I am going to pursue what I have wanted to do.

So, my future plan is to write one priest’s story while studying for an M.A. in English. Since I cannot physically attend courses at a university, I must find a good online course to continue my studies. With improved writing skills, I will make a booklet of the priest’s life to show our thankfulness and let him know about his life’s value to all of us.

将来の夢

みんな夢があると思う。私の夢はお世話になった神父様の一生を簡単に絵を添えて書くことです。
神父様は日本でなく当時は日本の統治下にあった韓国で生まれられました。高校進学前に日本に帰られ優秀な成績で高校を卒業され、大学入学後神学生となられて、教職の資格と共に修士号取得。その後、博士号は第二バチカン公会議がローマで開催されている時取得されました。

ご帰国後、赴任地の教会で許可を得て、教会の敷地内にコミュニティの人々が集まってお茶を飲みながらお話したり、お勉強したりする建物を建てました。英語の学校も建てました。
多くの人々が集まりました。海外に留学する学生もいました。そして、神父様はご病気でご入院、病院では丁度コロナウィルス感染防止のために面会もできないまま、誰にも看取られることなくひっそりこの世を旅立たれました。
そして、多くの人が集まり、学んだ学校、コミュニティセンターは、閉鎖・解体され、今は、学校やセンターの周りにあった木々や花も、記念の像や立札も何もありません。

それで、私は、神父様の簡単な一生のお話とその神父様や学生さん、先生、地元の人たちに「感謝」の印として、小冊子を作るのが夢です。
こうやって書いている「私」もすぐにあちらに行ってしまうでしょう。また、作った「小冊子」も消えていくでしょう。
しかし、それを作っている間、私は、書いている人達と見えない糸で、繋がれているのです。元気な神父様とも繋がっているのです。

さて、あなたの夢は何ですか。また、聞かせてください。