On February 26, 2025, the 199th anniversary of the foundation of our congregation, the sisters of the Province of Japan also celebrated the Diamond Jubilee (75 years) and Golden Jubilee (50 years) of Consecrated Life of Sisters Anna Kobayashi Yasuko and Maria Micaela Ueda Kanko, respectively.
Details of the joint celebration of the 199th anniversary of the foundation and the Diamond Jubilee and Golden Jubilee of Consecrated Life of Sisters Anna Kobayashi Yasuko and Maria Micaela Ueda Kanko, respectively.
Sr. Anna Kobayashi, at 93 years of age, is a person with a lot of life: it is hard to believe that she is this age! She was one of the first Vedruna vocations in Japan. Her parents were Catholics, who converted as adults. They were very fervent: they gave their five daughters to God in Religious Life. She has a fantastic memory, and often shares with us interesting facts about living with the first six Spanish missionary sisters who came to Japan; with them she learned to speak Spanish. Nor does she forget the names of the many children she cared for in various kindergartens. She likes to take care of the plants in the garden and vegetable garden. On rainy days, when she can’t go out, she takes the opportunity to do little things, like hand sewing. She also knows how to give a second life to used fabrics, transforming them into other useful things with her sewing machine. Currently, she is the sacristan of our chapel and every morning, after mass, she is in charge of taking the garbage to the street, to the place where the truck comes to pick it up. Every Sunday she goes to a parish, taking the train and the bus.
Sr. Maria Micaela Ueda Kanko is currently the President of the Educational Foundation of Aitoku School and three other kindergartens in Tarumi, Shinryodai and Kadoma. She is dedicated body and soul to the educational mission, which is not easy in Japan today. Her parents have had two children, she is the only daughter. At the age of 24 she was baptized and chose the name Maria Micaela, in honor of the holy foundress of the Congregation of Adorers. Providentially, she met the Vedruna Sisters when she felt the call of God to Religious Life and in 1975, at the age of 27, she entered as a postulant in the formation house in Tarumi. After finishing her theology course in Rome, she worked for a long time in charge of the formation of novices.
For us, celebrating the day of the birth of the Vedruna Family together with the life given to the Lord by two sisters, was a day of great joy. For this we can say:
Thank you Lord, for making us daughters of Joaquina who lived totally “For the greater glory of God and the good of our neighbor”.
Sr. Mitsue Shirahama, ccv
