austraLasia
1534
"Like a candle
consumed totally for the Lord": Sr. Iwanaga Matsuyo CSM returns to the Father's
Home
TOKYO: 20th April 2006 -- At the
age of 93, and at 2.27 Tokyo time this morning, the longest serving Mother
General of the Charity Sisters of Miyazaki returned to her Father's Home.
Mother Iwanaga had given all to her Congregation and to the Church. The
candle had simply and finally consumed itself.
Mother
Iwanaga was Mother General from 1962-1992. She then spent a further six
years as Vicar of the Congregation until 1998. She guided the Congregation
with forward-looking faith and courage. When she was elected Mother
General the Congregation was but 25 years old and present only in Japan and
South Korea. Under her leadership it developed considerably in number of
Sisters and in houses. In 1977 Sisters went to South America (Boliva
first, then Brazil and then to Peru) with the special mission of looking after
Japanese migrants in those countries, and the poorest amongst them. They
also came to Italy that same year and in 1980 to Germany. Currently the
CSM Sisters are in 11 nations and number around 1300
members.
It was during her time as Mother General that the
Congregation was officially recognised as a Member Group of the Salesian Family,
in 1986.
A vigil will be held tomorrow, 21st and the
funeral itself will take place on Saturday morning.
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