History of the Mission
The story of the Augustinian Mission in Japan is one that spans centuries. In 1602, Augustinian Friars from the Philippines arrived in Japan. They built the Church of the Holy Spirit in Nagasaki and more churches thereafter. Sadly, however, missionaries and their converts soon came under severe persecution and martyrdom, leading to the suppression of Catholicism, kept alive only through an underground movement in Nagasaki.
In 1952, 350 years after their first arrival in Japan, the Augustinians were invited by the Diocese of Nagasaki to return to Japan. Three Augustinians - Father George Krupa, O.S.A., Father Tom Purcell, O.S.A., and Father Edward Robinson, O.S.A. - accepted the invitation. The mission has continued to grow since it set roots in Nagasaki. Today, Augustinians minister in four cities throughout Japan: Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Tokyo. Though the Catholic population in Japan is small, the friars minister to a growing community of faith.
Ministries in Japan
Shiroyama Catholic Church, Nagasaki
In 1952, the Augustinians established Shiroyama Catholic Church, located just 800 meters from the epicenter of the atom bomb explosion. The founding of Saint Mary's School, the first parochial school in all of Japan, soon followed.
Sasaoka Church, Fukuoka
Founded in 1961, Sasaoka Catholic Church is home to approximately 800 parishioners in the suburb of Fukuoka City. Adjacent to the church sits Sasaoka Catholic Kindergarten, a well-known and respected institution in the community, educating some 150 students.
Minato Catholic Church, Nagoya
The Augustinians minister at Minato Catholic Church in Nagoya, one of Japan's largest cities and home to Toyota. As a booming port city, the Augustinians are involved in a unique "ministry of the sea," called Stella Maris, where the friars minister to the many sailors who arrive at Nagoya, a majority of whom are Filipino.
Kasai Catholic Church & Formation House, Tokyo
Founded in 1964, Kasai Catholic Church in Tokyo is a metropolitan parish. The Augustinians minister to the needs of the urban community with many social service programs, including food distribution to the homeless and outreach to the growing immigrant population. The Augustinian Formation House is also located in Tokyo, where young Japanese men prepare for ministry as an Augustinian priest or brother.