Dearest in Christ,
I apologize again for my delay in responding to your many thoughtful messages.
First, I am humbled to report that, all praise to God, a total of 54 souls found their way to our church on the Nativity Vigil,. Although people are less likely to share their negative thoughts with me, my honest impression was that our �sviata vechera� went well. Although I will be happy if one quarter of this number people show up for our next liturgy, it is good that, little by little, people are finding their way �home�.
I hope that Mr. Gordo, and any of you find yourself in Japan, will also consider our mission your home, and I would also be eager to simply share a cup of coffee or some sushi with any who might feel uncomfortable about worshipping with us. We are all icons of God, and all share this same small earth.
Regarding the examples I gave of LDS missionaries or new mosques (of which, another source states that there are no more than forty, with 7 having opened in the last two years), I hope that it will be understand that I gave these as examples of religious groups that were growing in Japan, with the intent of challenging us to consider why we (if you might allow me to use �we� in this context) should be shrinking during these same years. When I encounter an honest Muslim or Mormon or Buddhist, I feel that we share a common bond in that all of us are trying, in our own way, to give proper worship to our creator, and I generally enjoy any exchanges we have. I am not ignorant of our differences or stating that we are all the same, but we do share something as well.
Similarly, regarding our separated brethren in the Roman Catholic Church, I consider it a blessing to us and to all the Japanese that there is a small but strong Roman Catholic presence in Japan, but I am not indifferent to our differences. Informally, I am pleased to enjoy mutually-respectful and warm relationships with a number of Catholic clergy and laypeople. My favorite place in Japan, outside of my own home, is the Holy Trinity Benedictine Monastery (
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/fujimi/ ), and twice a month people from our mission visit the Franciscan Chapel Center to make rice balls which the Franciscans distribute to the hungry and homeless the next morning. (Yes, I do know Fr. Sweeney, although I always thought he was an Irish-American).
My impression is that the Roman Catholic Church has a very favorable image in Japan and that they are slowly growing, but that, as elsewhere, they are facing a problem with a shortage of clergy, especially younger Japanese clergy, which makes it difficult for them to focus energy on missions or evangelism. In terms of cooperation in that area, I do not see that this could be possible, as we are on different paths. I am pleased that we are in sight of each other, and hope that somewhere along the line our paths will reconnect, but I am not willing to cross over from this path, and would not dream of insisting to anyone on any other path that they must be on ours.
I apologize, again, for the slothfulness of my posting, and hope that I have addressed all the points that were raised.
Again, I thank all of you who prayed for us, and beg you to continue to remember our honest work, and all the Japanese people, in your prayers.
Your unworthy servant,
(Rev.) Paul Koroluk
St. Jude Ukrainian Orthodox Mission, Tokyo
http://www.stjude.jp 
