St. Anselm

Sun 10:00(For Kindergarten and Elementary School Children) in Japanese

Sun 12:00(For Kindergarten and Elementary School Children)in Japanese and English

Thu.10:00 "Preparation for Sunday Gospel"

Thu.19:00 "Introduction"

Sat.17:00 "Introduction"

3 minutes from West Exit of Meguro Sta. (JR Yamanote-line, Tokyu meguro-line, Tokyo Metro Namboku-line or Mita-line).
Parking space for 20 vehicles.

GoogleMap

In November, 1947, Meguro Church had been built by the Benedictine priests.  Fr, Hildebrand Yaiser, O.S.B.,  the founder of the Church, and Fr. Joseph Schmerbach,  his right hand man have experienced the hard times during & after the second world war working devotedly for the establishment of Meguro Church by transferring their register from Japan to St. John's Abbey in  U.S.A.  Fr. Emile Butrille, O.S.B. who had experience the prisoners' camp in China, Fr. Aloysius

 Michels, O.S.B. who was a warm hearted person like a virtuous farmer, and Fr. Neal  Henry Lawrence who had a international view. They were the major members who had made the foundation of Meguro Church. It should be remembered that the fund of the Church building was achieved by one dollar contributions of many poor Catholic citizens in U.S.A  In May, 1956 the present chapel has been constructed on the design of Mr. Antonine Raymond. After more than 50 years, even today the chapel has got  widely attention in the history of architecture and then young architectures and students visit the Church occasionally.

Inside the chapel the walls are made of concrete placing and the ceiling is high with orderly geometrical design. The chapel has a prayerful atmosphere in a sense of plain and honest poverty

without ornamentation and yet deep extensive solemnity. On the time of joy, suffering, feeling relief in a daily safety, the moment of visiting the chapel alone fills the heart with consolation  by gazing upon the Jesus on the cross only.  The Church is located along commonly called the Doreme( fashion school) street where young people walk delightfully in a corner of Yuhigaoka and the door of the Church is opened always.

Holy Masses for children's First Communion and graduation of children's Sunday School have a warm feeling of "one family in a Church community". With the children's singing the senior members try to tune up the unfamiliar songs intently. The youth is active to extend their circle. Women of 30 - 40 years old also have their places of active participations for the Church community. The old members since the first establishment of the Church, of course, support with their decent work. 

The 30 committee members who are the core group are elected by all the members. Not only

by the certain same members but also every person has a chance to experience the committee

member by turns, thus the Church committee has been carried out together with the chaplain and

all the other people for the better community of the faith.  　

For long time since the beginning the Church had been pastored by the Benedictine priests, but

from April 1999 it has become a parish ministered by the diocesan priests. In April 2004 CTIC

(Catholic Tokyo International Center) has been established in the Church yard, because of traffic convenience and large space. As the central office for the foreigners in the Metropolis Tokyo,

future significant services and pastoral care are expected much there. The rooms of former Benedictine monastery are used now for the lodging of  priests from abroad or working in special individual assignment. The large building of former kindergarten is used effectively for foreign catholic people holding gatherings or some programs. The Church offers regular international Mass and many foreigners  participates into the organizing international group.

As the same Catholics how much CTIC could be cooperated with foreigners together is our challenge and theme  given to the Archdiocese of Tokyo for the future.

  ( By Mr. Junichi Murata )