In the quiet embrace of the Wakayama mountains, where morning light rests softly upon our community walls, the Lord continues to write His tender story in the lives of the Daughters of Charity. Our mission here has entered a sacred season — a time when our communities grow older, and our numbers grow fewer. Yet in this delicate chapter, God’s presence feels even closer, like a gentle breath carried through the mountain air.

Each day, we lift our hearts and pray: “Lord, send laborers to care for Your beloved daughters.” And while we waited, we learned to care for one another with hands made gentle by grace, and hearts softened by compassion.

When I first arrived in Wakayama, our community was alive with 22 sisters, young and old woven together like threads of a single tapestry. But the rhythm of our days was uneven. The young moved with quick steps; the elder sisters walked slowly, savoring each moment, each meal, each breath. In this difference, we discovered both beauty and struggle.

Moved by wisdom, our Visitatrix, Sr. Mary Anne EVIDENTE, and our Councillor, Sr. Regina KANG, invited us to listen deeply to the needs of our sisters. And so, with prayer and discernment, the community was gently divided — not in spirit, but in care.

The elder sisters, once called the Maria Group, became the Bethany Community, a home for those aged 46 to 98, where life moves at the pace of grace. The younger sisters, once the Joseph Group, became the Nazareth Community, beginning anew in a building crafted for their mission.

In the Nazareth building, the first floor has been thoughtfully arranged into two refectories — one for the Bethany Community, and one for the Nazareth Community — a simple yet meaningful sign that though our missions differ, our hearts remain united.

On April 21, 2024, the Bethany Community began its new life — a sanctuary of wisdom, tenderness, and holy simplicity. Here, the elder sisters bloom in unexpected ways. They share their vocation stories with sparkling eyes. They laugh freely during recreation. They speak from hearts seasoned by decades of service. Their presence is a quiet hymn of gratitude.

And God, who hears every whispered prayer, answered ours. He sent us the Oshima Group — caregivers whose hands bring strength, whose music brings healing, whose presence brings peace. Through body exercises, music therapy, and gentle companionship, they help our elder sisters feel renewed, cherished, and seen.
Now, in Bethany, we pray together. We recreate together. We breathe together in the rhythm of God’s love.

This is our mission in Wakayama: To honor the years, to cradle the wisdom, to serve with hearts wide open, and to trust that God continues to send grace in every form.
May the Lord bless the Bethany Community with joy that does not fade, hope that does not tire, and love that continues to grow like morning light upon the mountains.

Contributed by: Sr. Emelita PERNES, DC