A while ago, the confreres of Japan and Korea held a joint retreat within the East Asia Sub-Region. The retreat took place from September 1 to 5, 2025, at the Passionist Convent in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, near Osaka, Japan.
The retreat was directed by Fr. Joseph Apisit Kritsaralam, C.Ss.R., who previously served as the Provincial Superior of Thailand for twelve years. The theme, “Revitalizing Our Consecrated Life for Mission,” guided all reflections and discussions. The event was a great success, bringing together 26 participants in a spirit of fraternity and renewal.
Retreat Sessions
The program consisted of seven sessions:
Session 1: Prophetic Language
Session 2: Language of Hope
Session 3: Language of Communion
Session 4: Developmental Stages of Relationships
Session 5: Language of Discernment
Session 6: Story of the Life-Saving Station
Session 7: Language of Creativity
Among these, the final session, “The Story of the Life-Saving Station” was particularly memorable. Participants read the parable, shared their reflections, and engaged in a deep discussion.
The story tells of a humble lifesaving station that, though poor, was dedicated to rescuing those in need. Over time, it grew in wealth and comfort but lost sight of its mission, transforming into an exclusive club. Meanwhile, others continued to suffer and perish, and although many similar clubs were later established, few remained true to the original purpose.
The reflection questions that followed were:
- What message does this story convey to you?
- Which part resonated with you most, and why?
- As Redemptorists today, what “comfort zones” do we, individually and communally, find most difficult to leave behind or break away from?
- How are we, as a unit and as a community, faithfully living our mission and apostolic priorities? What concrete suggestions can we make for renewal?
This parable in the form of questions inspired discussion was deeply appreciated by the participants. As not all members were able to attend the retreat, the Vice Province of Japan decided to revisit the same theme and reflection at the upcoming annual meeting in November.
We are truly grateful to the Holy Spirit for granting us this grace-filled opportunity to reflect anew on our consecrated life and mission.
Fr. Takeshi Inoue, C.Ss.R.
Vice-Provincial of Japan
