The 12th annual pilgrimage to Akita, Japan was held from the 3rd of May to the 6th of May 2018. Our Lady appeared to Sister Agnes Sasagawa in Akita several decades ago and delivered messages that correspond with those of Fatima. Ever since, Akita, like Fatima, has been considered holy ground for Catholics.
Approximately 50 faithful from Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, USA, Germany and Poland participated in the pilgrimage. Two priests attended to the spiritual needs of the pilgrims: Father Karl Stehlin, District Superior of Asia; and Father Thomas Onoda, Prior in Manila and missionary priest in Japan.
Pilgrims arrived in Akita on the 2nd of May in the evening, and the pilgrimage formally commenced the next morning. Each day began with a Low Mass celebrated by Father Onoda followed by a High Mass sung by Father Stehlin. A series of spiritual conferences preached by the latter on the theme of “Peace” ensued.
- Peace, according to St. Augustine, is the tranquillity of order. The most important peace is the peace in our hearts. Conversion is the first aspect of peace.
- We need to make peace in our families and with our neighbours.
- God makes peace. He is the peacemaker.
- Our Lady of Fatima said the following about peace: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me and it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world.”
- Our Lady promised peace for the world, and especially for the Church.
- In the Immaculate Heart of Mary and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus we find true peace.
All conferences are now available on the M.I. Channel
Each afternoon the pilgrims visited the Seitai Hoshikai, the convent of the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist. On the way, the pilgrims prayed five mysteries of the Rosary guided by meditations preached by Father Stehlin. Five more decades were prayed in the chapel of Our Lady in the convent.
On Friday, the pilgrims prayed the Way of the Cross outside the convent and observed a Holy Hour before the exposed Blessed Sacrament later in the evening. On Saturday, the pilgrims processed with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the convent’s Garden of Mary and adored the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.
Most of the pilgrims were Knights of the Immaculata, and at the conclusion of the pilgrimage Father Stehlin accepted 14 more new Knights.
The pilgrims departed from Akita on Sunday, the 6th of May. The pilgrimage deepened the participants’ knowledge of the Immaculata and thereby contributed to their spiritual growth as Knights and children of Mary.
Special thanks are owed to Father Onoda and the Japanese faithful for the meticulous and detailed planning of the pilgrimage. We are especially grateful for their kindness, generosity, and hospitality.
Deo per Immaculatam gratias!
To read more about the apparitions of Our Lady at Akita, please click here.
