Dec 11, 2002

To all members of Tokyo Archdiocese, priests, religious and lay persons.

＋May peace be with you all!

As Christmas grows closer, I realize that each parish must be very busy preparing for this special celebration.

As we know, the Archdiocese of Tokyo is now working on various tasks related to “the Reorganization of Parishes”. We have received many responses to “One Step Forward” the message I announced last year, and also to “Living out the Gospel Mission” the proposal submitted by the Reorganization Project Team this June. For greater understanding of this reorganization, we discussed relevant issues at the Diocesan Meeting in October and also at the Priests’ Assembly in November. I would like to thank deeply the many people who joined these discussions and supported our endeavors with their faithful prayers.

Having listening to the many and varied opinions of members of the diocese, and after prayerful consideration, in my capacity as Ordinary of the Archdiocese I have decided to start implementing “cooperation between Catholic Mission Districts -the first step toward the Reorganization of Parishes” and “preparation for a Diocese to Live out the Gospel Mission” from this coming Easter, 20th April, 2003. The Catholic Mission Districts will be organized as indicated on the attached sheet.

Many Catholic Mission Districts will experience personnel changes in regard to parish priests after Easter 2003, so actual implementation of the new structures will start after the reassignment of clergy. Fuller details regarding the cooperation between Catholic Mission Districts will be distributed before Easter. I deeply appreciate your cooperation, prayers and your growing understanding of the issues involved.

May the light of Love, Peace and Hope that shone upon the Holy Family at Bethlehem shine over the churches of our Diocese! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

11th December 2002

Organization of the Catholic Mission Districts
(From 20th April 2003)

*The Tokyo Korean Church and The Roppongi Franciscan Chapel Center are non-territorial Parishes, but they will also be cooperating in the new Catholic Mission Districts and so are included as above. 

(sub) stands for “sub parish”.

11th December 2002
Archdiocese of Tokyo