4127(II)_Brother Mori's Missionary Story
Guinness Record in distributing the Miraculous Medal of Mary
September 9, 2016
Miyazaki, Japan, 9 September 2016 -- Brother Peter Mori (77 years) is among the 7 senior Salesian Brothers of Japan province, who was for many years of his consecrated life involved in many different communities. However for past 30 years his life witness is marked by a special missionary commitment.
He got his vocation in the St. Joseph Orphanage in Nakatsu (Kyushu Island) and confess that thanks to prayers of many people he is still faithful to the Salesian vocation and his personal prayer of the Rosary: “Relationship to Mary is the secret of my Salesian life.”
About 30 years ago Br. Mori realized that he can do something more than his ordinary duties in the Salesian house. After pondering on the effects of the ‘miraculous medal’ of Mary, he realized that simply through distribution of this medal he can contribute to the evangelization of fellow non-Christian around him. After a dialogue with many outstanding senior missionaries like Fr. Suchán he started his missionary action.
Today Br. Mori shares his dream: "I would like to become first in this medal sharing! I don’t like to lose to anybody else. Long time ago I got first few medals from Fr. Cipriani in Don Bosco Sha, then I needed to wait for a very long time before another supply will come. Whenever some Salesian goes to pilgrimage abroad, I’m asking to purchase me some new medals." Until now Br. Peter distributed probably some 30.000 medals of Mary. And another Salesians supports him with printing of the brief explanation and package.
How does he evangelize with this medal? “I go the public places, like shopping mall, famous tourist spot, sea port and public park or on the train. I’m simply asking ‘Do you want a protection of Mary? It’s OK? May I give you one medal of Mary (with a short printed description)? Usually among the young people 8 of 10 boys are open to receive.”
Br. Mori also confess: "First time when I was rejected while offering the medal I was very ashamed. But then I realized that this is for Mary and she prays for all of us from heaven. On the other side many non-Christians are very happy to receive her medal." There are also many stories of those who receive the medal of Mary: "I meet in the street some who weary the medal of Mary for longer time and even ask some more medals for their family members."
Brother Mori concludes: "After 250 years of long lasting persecution of Christians in Japan and 150 years of evangelization we are still in the situation of initial proclamation of Jesus. All of Japan is a place for mission. Wherever I will distribute the medal, it will contribute to the salvation of souls. I’m just distributing and Mother Mary will do the rest!"
