THE 21ST SEICHO-NO-IE BRAZIL BROTHERHOOD ASSOCITAION AND WHITE DOVE ASSOCIATION JOINT NATIONAL CONVENTION (JAPANESE) DRAWS 2,958 PEOPLE
"Cherish Life”
Convention was held under the theme,
"Preciousness of Life"
The 21st Seicho-No-Ie Brazil Brotherhood Association and White Dove Association Joint National Convention (Japanese) was held at the Anihembi International Convention Center in Sao Paulo on September 16. The number of attendees was 2,958.
Held under the theme, “Cherish Life,” the Convention was guided by Rev. Yoshio Mukai (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America), Rev. Marie Murakami (Ordained Minister, Vice Chairman of Brazil Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Sinji Takahashi (Ordained Minister, Chief of Brazil Brotherhood Association), Rev. Leonor Ichikawa (Assistant Minister, Chief of Brazil White Dove Association), and Regional Lecturers. They lectured along the Convention theme.
Using as his text Ashimoto kara Heiwa o (From Here to Peace), Rev. Mukai gave a lecture entitled, “Cherish Life” and said, mixing in actual examples, that everything in heaven and earth is a manifestation of God’s life and that life is a school to learn that truth. Rev. Murakami lectured under the title, “Cherish Nature” and made an appeal for environmental protection. Each lecturer talked about the importance of life from a different angle. In addition, seeds of 10 different plants were given to all the attendees as a remembrance of the attendance at the Convention. This will contribute to the greening of the country.
They also showed a portion of the television interview, about 20 minutes, which was filmed with Rev. and Mrs. Masanobu Taniguchi at the time of 2006 Seicho-No-Ie Special Conference. The attendees studied the teaching, “all religions emanate from one universal God” as well as the wonderfulness of women’s innate nature.
For those who do not understand the Japanese language, there was a sub-site with 320 seats, where lectures were given in Portuguese on the same theme as the Convention site.
Comments received from the attendees included: “I was deeply moved to learn that not only human life but also all life—the life of plants and animals—is God’s life.”
Remarks by Rev. Yoshio Mukai,
Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America
“Amid the increasing assimilation of the Japanese Brazilian community into the local community, the first-generation Japanese Brazilians worked very hard to sell Convention tickets. Thanks to their genuine faith, the Convention turned out to be a wonderful one. The use of Japanese-language texts and to hear Japanese-language lectures makes it possible to grasp the truth directly. That is the reason why the Convention has a lot of appeal. Both the lecturers and attendees were deeply moved. Next year will be a commemorative year—it is the centennial of the start of Japanese immigration. I would like to make next year’s Convention befitting this milestone.”