How did a picture of the Virgin Mary end up in Tokyo’s Ueno National Museum? The story of \u30b5\u30ec\u30b8\u30aa\u6559\u4f1a is entwined with this beautiful image. This Catholic church is also known as Himonya Catholic Church. It stands in Meguro Ward.
\u30b5\u30ec\u30b8\u30aa\u6559\u4f1a has a fascinating history. The Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco established their Tokyo missionary base here in 1948. The first building was simple. It had a chapel and a rectory. Father Dal Fior was the first pastor. He celebrated Mass and reached out to the local community.
A kindergarten opened in 1949. The mission’s grounds became a playground. Soon, the chapel was too small. So, the present church was built in 1954. During construction, a holy picture was found. It was at the Ueno National Museum. The picture belonged to persecuted Christians from the Edo era. It was identified as “Our Lady of Edo”.
Giovanni Battista Sidotti was the owner of the picture. He was a Catholic priest from Italy. Sidotti entered Japan in 1708. He was one of the last missionaries during the Edo shogunate. He died in an Edo prison in 1714. The church dedicated the new building to Our Lady of Edo. The original painting was displayed for four months. A replica is in the church’s side chapel today.
The design is Romanesque. Many Italians financially supported the construction. Italian marble gives the interior a solemn feel. Brother L. Ferrari created the mural paintings. They add to the prayerful atmosphere. Stained glass windows depict the life of Jesus Christ. They also show symbols from the Bible and Church history.
\u30b5\u30ec\u30b8\u30aa\u6559\u4f1a got its name because the Archdiocese of Tokyo entrusted it to the Salesian Fathers. Like other Salesian churches, it runs a Sunday School and youth activities. Father Dal Fior was a talented musician. He created a strong music program and choir. These continue to flourish.
In 1967, the Salesian Church became an independent parish. The parish community has many groups. These include a men’s group, a women’s group, and a youth group. A Social Welfare Group helps the needy. This group supports the Tetere Church in Guadalcanal. Saint John Bosco focused on youth development. \u30b5\u30ec\u30b8\u30aa\u6559\u4f1a continues this tradition. Every Sunday, children gather for catechesis and games. They also play in a soccer club, a gymnastics group, or a painting group. The playground is open on weekdays.
Today, \u30b5\u30ec\u30b8\u30aa\u6559\u4f1a. It is a place of faith and community service. It welcomes people from all walks of life.