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​About Toshima Church

“Toshima Church was founded in 1948 by missionaries from the Society of St. Columban, and the current church was consecrated in June 1956.The saint, St. He is a saint.

In April 2003, the head priest of the church was transferred from a missionary of the Society of St. Columban to a parish priest, and has remained there to this day.

​History of Toshima Church

June 2025 - April 2026

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1950

・St. Patrick Kindergarten Approved

・Construction of believers' meeting place (believers' hall)

August 1959

Bronze statue of the Virgin Mary created by Yasutake Funakoshi is enshrined

(Currently placed on the right side facing the altar)

1971

Teshima Church Girl Scouts launched

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June 1953

・Rev. Connolly, Rector of the Society of St. Columban,

Visit from headquarters in Ireland to celebrate mass

・Toshima Church Boy Scouts organization

1954

Legio Marie activities begin at Toshima Church

August 1955

・Construction begins on the new cathedral (current cathedral) designed by Antonin Raymond

​・Bazaar held to raise funds for the construction of a new church

July 1956

New church (current church) completed

March 1965

As part of the liturgical reform carried out by the Second Vatican Council, parts of the liturgy began to be translated into Japanese (based on the "Pastoral Guidelines for the Liturgy of the Mass", published February 15, 1965)

December 1966

Liturgical reform by the Second Vatican Council

As part of this, the altar has been renovated and relocated as Mass has changed to a face-to-face ceremony.

1968

St. Patrick Kindergarten new building completed

1969

An office will be built next to the church entrance.

1970

Elections to elect church committee members will be held from this year (continues to the present)

1974

25th Anniversary Mass of the Church

1976

He designed the cathedral of Teshima Church.
Mr. Antonin Raymond passes away in the United States (age 88)

1980

Renovation of the rectory and congregation hall

February 1981

Pope John Paul II visits Japan

1983

Cathedral renovation work (ceiling, pulpit, baptismal font, crying room, etc.)

March 1985

Vatican Ambassador Archbishop Carew visits and celebrates Mass

December 1986

·Ireland. Cardinal O' Fee, Archbishop of Armagh, visits and co-celebrates Mass with Archbishop Shirayanagi
​・Barrier-free construction

1989年1月

From the idea of Reverend C. Murphy to provide a place of prayer for foreign believers, English masses were started and continue to be held to this day.

・Rev. J. Doyle becomes the first chief priest of Toshima Church.

・First mass in the temporary cathedral

October 1991

Teshima Church International Day (International Mass) begins

August 1992

Believers hall renovation work

Fr. Denis Curran, S.S.C.
August 1968 - October 1968

Fr. Gerald Griffin, S.S.C.

November 1968 - February 1972

Fr. S. McElwain, S.S.C.

February 1972 - July 1973

Fr. Michael Scully, S.S.C.

September 1973 - August 1976

Fr. Michael Moloney, S.S.C.

August 1976 - April 1978

Fr. Bede Cleary, S.S.C.

April 1978 March 1986

Fr. Cyril Murphy, S.S.C.

March 1986 1995

Fr. Michael Scully, S.S.C.

October 1996 April 1998

Fr. James Doyle, S.S.C.

1949-December 1950

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Fr. James Sweeney, S.S.C.February 1951 - November 1952

Fr. John O'Sullivan, S.S.C.

November 1952 - July 1962

Fr. John Crowe, S.S.C.

October 1962 - August 1968

1998

New organ installed for church's 50th anniversary

May 1999

50th anniversary mass of church, publication of commemorative magazine

2002

Editing and publication of “Toshima Church Hymn Collection”

2006

Interior renovation of congregation hall

2009

Mass commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the church

カタル・ガラハ師

1995年8月〜1996年10月

Fr. Leo Schumacher, S.S.C.

April 1998 April 2003

Fr. Sebastian Tetsuya NISHIKAWA

April 2003 - April 2009

Fr. John Vianney Yuji URANO Urano April 2009 - April 2013

2010

Six air conditioners (cooling and heating) installed in the church.

2011

Chief Priest Rev. Urano, to support the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Seconded to Sendai Diocese (until October)

July 2016
October 2016

Mass for the 60th anniversary of the cathedral's consecration work, seismic reinforcement work and large-scale repair work

Fr. Francis Assisi Takahiro TANAKA

April 2013 - April 2023

2018

100th anniversary of the founding of the Society of St. Columban, 70th anniversary of mission to Japan

2020

Public mass canceled due to coronavirus pandemic

(February 27th to June 21st)

2024

Create and publish new homepage

Fr. John Apostle Noboru TANAKA

April 2023

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