This Japanese-Western style building dates back to circa 1897 (Meiji 30). It was the residence of Sasaki Shizuji, the fourth president of Kyosei, a rice wholesaler.
After the war, it was acquired and renovated as a branch church of Tomioka Church.
In 1949 (Showa 24), the land and building were purchased to open a new church in response to the growing number of parishioners in Otaru City. The first parish priest was appointed in October of that year. The parishioners were immediately mobilized to begin expanding and renovating the building, and the dedication ceremony was held on November 13th.
(Approximately 140 people were transferred from Tomioka Church.)
With the continued dedication of the parishioners, led by the priest, the parishioners continued to work hard, starting with the construction of blocks, expanding and renovating the road wall, parsonage, and chapel. The dedication ceremony for the expanded chapel was held on November 16th, 1952 (Showa 27).
(From "Yakushin," the commemorative magazine for the 50th anniversary of the elevation of the Diocese of Sapporo)
The name of the cathedral is the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The statue of the Virgin Mary inside the cathedral was created by the first parish priest, Father Kinai Tozaburo.
Mary is the model of faith, and her heart is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
In honor of the "Seven Sorrows," the Heart of the Virgin Mary is traditionally depicted as being pierced by a sword.
The Feast of the Heart of Mary was established by Pope Pius XII in 1944 and moved to the day after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the reign of Pope Paul VI.
In April 2015, two church organizations in the city merged to form the "Catholic Otaru Church."
In conjunction with this, the names were changed to "Suminoe Cathedral" and "Tomioka Cathedral." The parsonage is located here.
Although we face issues such as a decrease in the number of priests and an aging and declining parishioner population, the two buildings continue to be used as before and are open to the public, with the aim of remaining a church rooted in the community.
This was the filming location for the TBS drama "Azami Mitsuhiko Series: The Sea of Metaphysics," which aired in 2011, and featured the orphanage "Donguri Gakuen" in the show.
Every July, the Sumiyoshi Shrine festival draws many visitors. There are no restrooms nearby, so please feel free to use these!
I was baptized at the Holy Vigil of Easter in April 2012 and was given the spiritual name of St. Michael.
Thank you to everyone at Otaru Church for your support!
I joined Tsukisamu Church in September 2022. I occasionally visit.
Due to a decrease in the number of parishioners and an aging population, it has been decided that Suminoe Cathedral will close in January 2024.
The Otaru Church will retain the Tomioka Cathedral, but the old parsonage will be demolished due to its aging. It will be a traveling church without a resident priest.
It will mark its final days with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by the Bishop on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, April 28, 2024 (Reiwa 6). After deconsecration, the building, as a quasi-historic structure, will be used in a plan to restore old houses.
To me, Otaru Church is like a light illuminating a dark path. Farewell, Suminoe Cathedral.
I will never forget my baptism, my interactions with Vietnamese students, my pilgrimage to Seoul...I will never forget the times I spent here.
Former Catholic Suminoe Church In 1949, the residence of Sasaki Seiji, president of Kyosei Co., Ltd., which became the largest rice milling company in Hokkaido, was acquired and made into a branch church of Tomioka Church. The church is a single-story wooden building with white walls and an octagonal sunroom, incorporating a mix of Japanese and Western styles. The square in front of the church is also used as a resting place for local residents on their walks.
You can walk there from Otaru city, but since it is a church, it is best to be careful not to go in too easily. It is a very dignified building.
