JAPAN - Auxiliary Bishop of Osaka: “We will help the fishermen who don't receive government aid”

Osaka (Agenzia Fides) – The Japanese Bishops and the Apostolate of the Sea are concentrating on helping the fishermen and those people, who, for diverse reasons do not qualify for government aid: so says Bishop Michael Goro Matsuura, Auxiliary Bishop of Osaka and promoter of the work of the Apostolate of the Sea (AOS) in Japan.

The Bishop tells Fides that he is shocked and worried by the large scales damages caused by the tsunami: “Many fishing communities have been completely washed away. Others have lost their boats and their homes, and remain with nothing. It will take many programs and projects to rebuild the human, social and working environments of these people. It will be a long-term process, because still today people look at the sea with extreme fear,” notes the Bishop. “As the Apostolate of the Sea and the Catholic Church,” he adds, “we will try to make our contribution, especially aimed at the communities and individuals who fail to qualify for aid from the Government.”

Bishop Matsuura wishes to thank the Catholic Church at the universal level, but also all the Japanese Catholic faithful for their great expression of solidarity that they are offering to the people: “We invite everyone to contribute donations to our collection to help develop projects that will benefit these communities. But we also ask for prayers, that people do not get discouraged and that they find new strength to rebuild their lives.” For the Catholic Church “this disaster represents a great opportunity to show solidarity and love of neighbour,” said the Auxiliary Bishop of Osaka.

Responding to calls by the Holy Father, the AOS - which has already intervened in Asia following the tsunami of 2004 and therefore has experience in this type of situation - has sparked its network at both regional and international levels, establishing a special fund to meet the losses incurred by Japanese fishermen (see Fides 23/03/2011). The Apostolate of the Sea, also known as 'Stella Maris' is the official society of the Catholic Church for the pastoral care of seafarers. To carry out this responsibility, the society operates within the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/3/2011)