Due to the present circumstance, our brother Henry from Myanmar, who was doing his philosophical studies in University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, joined the novitiate with other 14 Postulants from the Philippines Province, in the Chapel of Saint Albert the Great in Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Calamba on May 21, 2022. Let us pray for him and for a fruitful novitiate.

On March 25, Solemnity of the Annunciation, the community of Fukuoka solemnly celebrated the first mass of the two newly ordained brothers with a Mass in the Parish with a good group of faithful. In the afternoon, the Bishop of Fukuoka visited us, was invited to dinner and was especially interested in the future apostolates of the new priests.

On March 21 we had the priestly ordination of Br. Pedro Zya-Reh and Br. Francisco Bu-Ling in the cathedral of Fukuoka by the bishop of the diocese of Fukuoka, Msgr. Josep Maria Abella CMF (Spanish). Thank God the ceremony was very beautiful and.
It really was a special gift from God to be able to do so in this very complicated time of coronavirus across the country, particularly in Fukuoka.
After months of preparation, not only of the ordained brothers, but also of the friars who had to help them meet all the canonical requirements and finally the help of the diocese was fundamental. We especially have to thank the Bishop of Fukuoka Msgr. Josep Maria Abella CMF, who thanks to him everything was possible because he wanted to do it as an event of the diocese.
The officers of the diocese who participated, in particular, we must remember Fr. Totoki, liturgist and master of ceremonies, Fr. Aoki, in charge of the central office of the bishopric and Fr. Sugihara, parish priest of the cathedral, with whom we prepared everything. 

On the part of the Order, given the restrictions due to the coronavirus, only 10 friars attended the Ordination: The vicar, Br. Mariano presented them to the candidates and made the official request to be ordained. Matsuyama was attended by the prior, Br. Juan Manuel and the suprior, Br. Javier Lechon, who were in charge of helping to dress the candidates in their new priestly garments. From the community of Nishinomiya attended the superior, Br. Jovinus and Br. Inage, who was in charge of reading the gospel. From Tokyo attended Br. Emilio with some friends and Fr. Michel Giard OP, representing the vicariate of Canada. Fr. Peter Thoai, was in charge of giving the last greeting of thanks and congratulations on behalf of the Order.
All were supported by a good group of priests of the diocese, religious and faithful, in particular the enthusiastic group of 60 parishioners of our parish in Fukuoka, who wholeheartedly supported our young priests. Also in attendance was Sister Mariana Park OP, representing the Missionaries of St. Dominic, and the head of the Christians of Matsuyama Parish.

Thanks also to the support and help of the tertiaries and the faithful of our parish of Hakozaki (Fukuoka), who turned their hearts with the preparation and celebration of this event, as well as with a festive and family atmosphere they welcomed them on Sunday, March 27, they welcomed them into the parish to officially celebrate their first Mass.

We must not forget the relatives and friends (including Fr. Provincial himself and friars from other countries), the new priests for not being able to travel to Japan and attend priestly ordination due to the travel ban due to the coronavirus and the lack of freedom and persecution they are suffering from the unjust war in their own country. Let us remember everyone in our prayers.