Her faith was bolstered by friends

From a very early age, Miho Hanafuji felt drawn to the Catholic faith and often found herself inside a small chapel in her hometown of Zushi, Japan, where she experienced an inexplicable "sense of peace and belonging."

It was in that chapel that Miss Hanafuji, then being raised in the Buddhist tradition, believes the seeds of her dream to be baptized into Catholicism were planted.

It was not, however, until her arrival in the Albany Diocese that the seeds really began to grow and blossom, thanks in large part to the spiritual nurturing of clergy and friends associated with St. Frances de Sales Church in Troy. Among them were Rev. Donald Ophals, pastor; Rev. William DeBiase, OFM, a former missionary to Japan who now ministers at Siena College in Loudonville; and Colleen Rockwell, who served as Miss Hanafuji's RCIA sponsor.

"They have all been so wonderful to me. I think we will be lifelong friends," Miss Hanafuji told The Evangelist.

Miles to go

Although she was baptized, received her First Communion and was confirmed at the parish's Easter Vigil service earlier this year, she still has much to learn about the Catholic faith. To that end, she plans to continue meeting on a regular basis with Father DeBiase, who translates and explains some of the more complex Scripture readings and teachings of Catholicism in a way she describes as being "very natural and easy to understand."

"We meet every other week to talk about different topics," explained Miss Hanafuji, a graduate student in the doctoral program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. She is also working on an internship as a statistical consultant at GE in Schenectady.

"In the past, Father Bill has explained such things as the relationship of the Blessed Trinity," she said. "Another time, he brought a map of all the historical places where Jesus visited. Last week, Father brought me a Rosary and book about the Rosary so I can read and ask him questions about it the next time we meet."

Interpreter

Father DeBiase, who served as a missionary in Japan for 28 years, insists he is only "operationally functional" in Japanese, but she disagrees.

"I think Father Bill is being humble. His Japanese is excellent!" said Miss Hanafuji, stressing that his ability to communicate so effectively in her native tongue has greatly enhanced her spiritual journey. "Without his help, there are some important concepts that would have been very hard for me to grasp. Father Bill explained them to me so clearly in Japanese and answered all of my questions in a way that was easy for me to understand."

The Franciscan priest met Miss Hanafuji while helping Father Ophals at a weekend Mass several months ago. He insists that the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) experience was at least as rewarding for him as for the young Japanese woman he helped to instruct.

"Miss Hanafuji is just a delightful human being," he said. "She is a very nice, very deep, very perceptive individual [who has become] a good, strong Catholic."

New to Faith

Although Father DeBiase, who has also served in India and the Holy Land, has helped "in varying degrees" to bring many people into the Church, he emphasizes that each person is "unique" and each conversion represents "a new experience."

"It is always very refreshing to help bring someone into the Faith," reflected Father DeBiase, who was in Japan in October to participate in a celebration at his former Tokyo parish.

Although Miss Hanafuji is the only Japanese person he has instructed since being assigned to Siena College in 1996, Father DeBiase would welcome the opportunity to work with others in the Diocese.

Sisters in Christ

Mrs. Rockwell, who was Miss Hanafuji's RCIA sponsor, shares her hope that the two of them will remain lifelong friends and "sisters in Christ."

A catechist at St. Francis de Sales, Mrs. Rockwell was "very excited" when asked earlier this year if she would be interested in sponsoring Miss Hanafuji.

"I believe we are all called to be disciples, and I especially wanted to reach out to Miss Hanafuji as a friend and as a sister in Christ," said Mrs. Rockwell, adding that she hoped to serve as "a Christian witness" during the young Japanese woman's faith journey.

They 'clicked'

Mrs. Rockwell said she was overjoyed upon meeting Miss Hanafuji to find the two of them "just clicked."

"Miho is such a warm, loving, very expressive person, and we immediately connected," recalled Mrs. Rockwell, adding that their "friendship was ignited by a fire that was surely Our Lord."

Early on in their relationship, Mrs. Rockwell told Miss Hanafuji not to worry if she had difficulty at first understanding everything in the Bible and her Catechism not to mention everything that was going on during Mass.

"I believe strongly in the power of the Holy Spirit and that He will give you ears and eyes so that the Scripture will come alive for you," Mrs. Rockwell told The Evangelist.

Family reaction

An interesting component in Miss Hanafuji's conversion is that she was raised by a Buddhist mother while her father was a Catholic.

"Buddhist traditions dominated our lives, but I was always interested in my father's Catholic side," explained Miss Hanafuji.

Although her mother has passed away, Miss Hanafuji said her father was "very pleased" upon learning of her decision to become a Catholic. "He thought it was really wonderful!"

Fiance

Another person who rejoiced at Miss Hanafuji's Baptism and continues to support her in what she refers to as her "lifelong faith journey" is her fiance, Dominic Bennett of Vermont. They met shortly after she arrived in the USA in 1992.

"I was a student in New Haven, and I was feeling alone and insecure," she recalled. "It was then that I began going to church and met Dominic. He was such a good Catholic, and we had many conversations about God and Mary."

Last fall, after contacting several churches in the vicinity of RPI, Miss Hanafuji was referred to St. Francis de Sales where she says she has grown even closer to the Lord.

"I've learned much about the Catholic faith, about Jesus and about the Mass," she said. "I look forward to a lifetime of learning even more." [[In-content Ad]]