Amazonia Spiritual Training Center Completed
First Truth Realization Seminar Held
On May 27 the Amazonia Spiritual Training Center was completed at Benavides City, Para State that is the downstream of the Amazon River. A ceremony was held to celebrate it. This is the fifth spiritual training center in Brazil.
There was a strong wish among the followers at the Para Missionary Brach to build a spiritual training center in Para State. When the 134-hectare land owned by the late Mr. Hidehiko Mokonuma, Chairman of the Para Missionary Area Brotherhood Association at the time, was donated to the Brazil Missionary Headquarters on May 27, 2004, a concrete plan was devised and the work for construction started from 2005. A Spiritual Training Seminar began to be held in 2006 at a villa residence on the premise ahead of the completion of the Center.
In constructing the Center, the aim was to make it the “Spiritual Training Center in the Forest,” so that the trees on the site were preserved as they were and the 10-hectare land, which had already been cleared, was used to build the building, road and a parking lot, etc. The Center is a one-story building with a tower in front and has a large hall that can seat 200 people, a sleeping quarter each for men and women, a dining room, a warehouse and so forth.
The completion ceremony was attended by 516 people, mostly followers in Para. It started at 7:30 p.m. After a letter of appreciation to the late Mr. Mokonuma was presented to his oldest son by Rev. Marie Murakami (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of the Brazil Missionary Headquarters), Rev. Murakami gave a commemorative lecture.
Comments received from the attendees included: “When a flower bouquet was presented to Mr. Mukonuma’s family, his son received it and bowed deeply in tears. The sight was deeply moving.”
On the following day (May 28) the Spiritual Training Center was used for the first time to hold a Truth Realization Seminar (Japanese, two days/one overnight). Sixty-two people attended not only from Para State but also Amazonia State and Maranhao State.
Remarks by Rev. Yoshio Mukai, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America
“A new spiritual training center was built in northern Brazil. This is convenient for people who used to travel a long distance to come to the South American Spiritual Training Center in Ibiuna, Sao Paulo. The maintenance of the Center requires a considerable effort, so that the followers in the area are cooperating and trying hard. The Brazil Missionary Headquarters would like to extend support as well.”