Sister M. Zita Hisako Sugita

My name is Sister M. Zita Hisako Sugita. I was born in 1938 in Yashiro, Asago-cho, Asago City, in the Hyogo prefecture. My family’s religion is Buddhism (Zen). I have two brothers. My mother died when I was three years old, and my father’s cousin (my adoptive father) took me in. My adoptive father lived alone and raised me up.

When I was at Junior Highschool, a man from the Ikuno Catholic Church came to the school and distributed devotional pictures. It was through these pictures that I first encountered Catholicism. After that, a relative in Kyoto introduced me to a dentist’s family, and I went to work there as a housekeeper. Everyone in the house was Catholic. Next door to the dentist was the Saiin Church. I attended that church with the members of this family and received the grace of baptism. My baptismal name is Gracia.

Then I returned to my birthplace. I belonged to the Ikuno Church. My adoptive father heard me praying before my meal and became interested. I began to teach him the Catholic catechism. When my adoptive father became ill, he was entered to St. Mary’s Hospital. He was baptized by Fr. Daniel, the chief priest of Ikuno Catholic Church.

I worked at Himeji St. Mary’s Hospital for about three years through the introduction of Fr. Daniel. I met sisters here and learned about religious life. Then four young women I met at Ikuno Catholic Church entered the Congregation. This led me to consider religious life, and at the age of 23, I decided to entered our congregation. However, my adoptive father was against it and strongly recommended me to get married. I spent my time taking care of my adoptive father, keeping my mind set. After seven years, my adoptive father passed away. Before he died, he told me to live the happiest life, and knocked on the doors of our congregation.　

I joined our congregation on February 11, 1973, made my first vows on April 18, 1976, and pronounced my final vows in 1979. I worked in the laundry of our convent after my first vows, and after a while I also worked as a housekeeper at St. Mary’s Hospital.

After pronouncing my final vows, I worked in the kitchen of Francis Villa in Tokyo for 4 years, in the kitchen of St. Mary’s Hospital for 3 years, and then in the laundry for 8 years. I worked for 2 years as an assistant in the rehabilitation department of Nagasaki St. Francis Hospital. At that time, the Korean mission had started already. It was asked to go on a mission to Korea, so I volunteered. There, I spent a year at a formation house in Seoul, sharing the Bible once a month in Japanese, and helping out at a
nursing home（belong OFM）in Jang Seong prefecture. When I went shopping, I communicated in broken Korean.

After returning to Japan, I spent 2 years as a volunteer at Nibuno Villa, where a retired priests and sisters lived. And I have spent 11 years as a volunteer with sisters at the chapel of Himeji convent and Maria Villa. I have experienced many places of apostolate and had many encounters.

One of the most memorable moments for me was when I was doing my apostolate at the chapel of Himeji convent. A man of about 65 years came to the chapel every day crying and praying. I asked him what happened. He told me his son had committed suicide, his wife had died trying to help him, and he had buried both of them. I listened to what he said and replied, “If you cry every day, your son in heaven must be incredibly sad. Your son would be so relieved and pleased to know that you are living a positive, happy, and healthy life.” About a week later, he came to the chapel and changed completely, became cheerful and energetic, and thanked me. I was so happy and thanked God.

Currently, I am a flower attendant at the Ritiro chapel of the Retreat House in Himeji, and my apostolate is prayer. I grow flowers and vegetables in a small space in a field. The flowers are displayed in the chapel. I also spend time with my hobbies, calligraphy and Japanese paintings.

I give everything to God through what I can do. I thank God for the religious life and apostolate God has given me since my first vows.