Sister Consolata Haruko Sakita.
My name is Sister Consolata Haruko Sakita. I came from Miyakonojo in Miyazaki Prefecture.
My family’s religion is Shinto. I began to go to Church at the age of 18, but not because I was searching for faith. Near the company for which I was working, there was a Church to which my friend belonged, and I went to”kill time” and began to study the Catholic faith.
When I was 20 years old, I was baptized. My father opposed it, but I could do it secretly, as I lived in the dormitory of the company. Later, I left the company and went home, where my parents tacitly accepted my having been baptized. On Sunday, I went to Church by bicycle; it took two and a half hours one-way. Then, I was asked to come to help at the convent of the Sisters of Maryknoll of Otsu in Shiga Prefecture. I worked there for a while.
Because I was over the age of 20, people around me were worried and began to recommend that I either become a missionary or get married. I chose the religious life because I felt anxious about deepening my faith by myself. A Sister of Maryknoll introduced me to our Congregation.
I cannot speak English. The Sisters of Maryknoll used English both in conversation and in prayer. I chose this Congregation, because I said to myself, there is no need to speak English.
I entered the community on October 7, in 1963. I made my First Profession of Vows on September 17, 1966. At the beginning, I worked as a dietician in the food department of the hospital for 25 years. Now I care for the residents in Maria Villa, a home for the elderly.
Fifty years have passed in no time. I celebrated Golden Jubilee this year (2016). With my whole heart I am thankful for the unlimited grace of God and the support of all of the Sisters of our Congregation who have helped me to come this far. Thank you.