2024 July 19

 

Together We Campaign  Candle and Photo Exhibition

Announcement Concerning Implementation of the Niigata Diocese Relay

 

Diocesan Caritas Committee of Niigata

　Fr. Shuta Oka, Committee Chairman

 

Dear Parishioners of the Niigata Diocese

 

Peace be with you.

We hope that you are doing well this summer season.

In response to the call of Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Japan is launched the “Together We Campaign” (“TW Campaign”) from December 2021 to December 2024. The campaign, in response to Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, and under the slogan “ACT TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW,” that will “listen to the cries of the earth and of those who have been pushed into vulnerable situations”, while the goal is to promote a “community that cares (a community that practices love) based on mutual concern”, and to build a “culture of care” together.

2024 will be a “Year of Blessing and Reflection” and it has been proposed that each diocese conduct a sharing of experiences and impressions with the following two pillars as foundation:

(1) “Together We” Mass and candle relay

(2) “Together We” Photo Exhibition Touring Relay

In the Diocese of Niigata, as a result of discussions by the Diocesan Caritas Committee and taking into consideration the actual situation of the Diocese, it was decided to conduct the above events on a district-by-district basis, in a relay format from the Joetsu District to the Akita District within the Diocese. Below is an outline of the campaign in the Diocese of Niigata. The details of the “Together We Mass” schedule and other events will be announced for each district. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

１　Niigata Diocese TW Campaign Dates and Venues

（1）Jōetsu District      Aug 11~18       Itoigawa Church (Fr. Kōshi Itoh)

（2）Chuetsu District    Aug 25~Sept 1   Nagaoka Church (Fr. Raul Valadez)

（3） Kaetsu District    Sept 8~15       Niigata Church (Fr. Takeo Tanaka)

（4）Yamagata District  Sept 22~29      Yamagata Church (Fr. Sri Waluyo, SSCC)

（5）Akita District      Oct 6~13       Akita Church  (Fr. Kōtaro Iino, SVD)

 

２　Three proposals for campaigns in each district

(1) “Together we” Mass

(2) Photo exhibition

(3) District events (sharing, etc.)

Please refer to the above three suggestions and implement them according to the situation of your district.

 

Reference and Related Materials

Caritas Japan “We are Caritas” No. 25-28 (Caritas Japan website)

(Also available at https://www.caritas.jp/category/news/campaign/togetherwe/）

Message of the Bishops of Japan, “Behold, It Was Very Good” (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, 2024).