September 2025

Even though hot weather continued all during this month of September, Shinmeizan has welcomed several visitors. Among them we wish to remember in a special way:

• Mr. and Mrs. Hamatake, who visited us on September 3,
• Ven. Hara Onin, Head of the Choenji Temple (Nichiren Buddhism) of Kumamoto, who came to Shinmeizan with his daughter on September 7,
• The Xaverian Fr. Irvin, who visited us on September 13, and the Xaverian Fr. Pablo, Fr. Serge, Fr. Ulrich, and Aubin and Lucien who stayed with us from September 29 to October 1^st;

• Mr. Sato, from Okinawa, who came to Shinmeizan for some days of silence and meditation, from September 25 to 28;

• The two Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary who came for their annual 8 days’ retreat from September 26 to October 4;

• Mrs. Yamamoto who, after the celebration of her Baptism at the church of Yamaga on Sept. 28, came to Shinmeizan the following day, with her sister and niece, accompanied by Mrs. Miyamoto of the same Church of Yamaga;

Among the main activities of interreligious dialogue carried out during this month, we wish to remember in a special way:

• The participation of Sr. Maria De Giorgi in the International Symposium “‘Fides et Ratio’: ‘Travelling on wavy roads’. Pilgrimages between Japan and Europe”, held on September 3^rd at the Vatican Pavilion of the International EXPO of Osaka. Sr. Maria spoke about “Religions in pilgrimage. For a ‘dialogue of salvation’ (ES 72)”, recalling the history of interreligious dialogue, especially between Buddhism and Christianity, along the “silk road” during the centuries. In the audience attending the symposium were also the Ambassador of Italy to Japan, and Card. Jean Claude Hollerich from Luxemburg, as well as all the Bishops of Japan.  

• On September 28, Shinmeizan led the Group for Interreligious Dialogue of Kumamoto in a visit to the Jokokuji temple (Soto-Zen Buddhism) of Kumamoto.