Sr. M. Scholastica Yamano Misano
Yamano Misano (Mary) was born in 1926 in Nagasaki, a city in Japan, located on the coastal western island of Kyushu. She was the first of twelve children born to Mary and Michael, a married Christian couple. The young woman nourished in herself the desire for a total consecration to the Lord. She received from her parents the blessing to deepen this desire.
Her Uncle, Paolo Yamano belonged to the Society of St. Paul, and they had a bookstore in Fukuoka. During September 1949, her uncle, Brother Paul SSP invited Mary to serve priests and deepen her love for the charism of the Pauline Family. The date of Mary’s arrival in Fukuoka was the 2nd of May, 1949. Exactly one year later, on the 2nd of May 1950, the first two Pious Disciples, Sr. M. Ilaria Vaia and Sr. M. Cordis Drudi arrived in Japan. They were warmly welcomed.
Sr. M. Scholastica Yamano is the first Japanese aspirant. She is one of the Sisters associated with the development of the apostolate in the years of the foundation of the Congregation in Japan. With the arrival of the Pious Disciples, her systematic formation began. She entered the novitiate in Kawaguchi near Tokyo on May 4, 1953, and made her first profession in Kawaguchi on May 5, 1954. She then professed her perpetual vows in Tokyo DM on May 5, 1959. In the questions she was called to respond to during this formative journey, she always emphasized these words: “With firm and free will”.
The superiors who guided her noted that Scholastica was a positive, simple, prayerful person, always faithful and very generous. In time, she was followed into the Congregation by her sisters, Sr. M. Bernadette, Yamano (1955), Sr. M. Immacolatina Yamano (1962) and Sr. M. Benedicta Yamano (1963). They walked together, united, and joyfully following the Divine Master.
In the years 1963-1964 she obtained a diploma in culinary art. This helped her in her service to the Pauline Fathers and Brothers as a cook in the houses of Fukuoka and Tokyo. Over the years, she also had the responsibility of coordinating the community of Fukuoka São Paulo in 1970 and was a local councilor in 1981 and 1996. In 2002 she moved to the DM House in Tokyo for various tasks, served with the simplicity of the little ones of the Gospel. Everything in her life shone with the spirit of the ordinary.
At 76 years of age, she wrote to Mother General: “I thank you very much for what you do for Japan. I would like to inform you that I have finally decided to use the hearing aid. I didn’t want to use it because I’m getting older in years, and it’s very expensive but, with gratitude, I adhere to what my superiors suggest. For my part, I will continue to serve the Congregation in everything” Tokyo 21.09.2002.
She was willing to help in the kitchen even in her later years. She was always positive and generous. Throughout her life she loved priestly service, she was appreciated as a mother and supporter. She had a great heart.
Sustained by the word of the Founder, she looked to the Virgin Mary who guided Jesus in his growth. She felt the responsibility and the mission to collaborate in the formation of the young people. She cared for them and was affectionately called “mother” by the priests and the disciples of the Society of St. Paul. She herself says: “Close to the priests, disciples and seminarians, I loved and carried out with pleasure my hidden activities, like the Virgin Mary who was always with Jesus. I happily cared for them and watched over them, as a mother watches over and feeds her children. I spoke kind words of encouragement to the young people in formation, especially those who had vocational problems or needed help. My daily offering was for them”.
She had always felt a deep belonging to what has been the charismatic thought of the Founder, and she always sought to put it into practice:
“Reflect on the way that the Virgin Mary related towards Jesus. Understand that Jesus has called you to a very lofty mission, very similar to that of Our Lady. You must look at her to imitate her, and you must hope that she will help you carry out your mission.” APD 46-47 n. 81.
“God did not want man to be alone: Non est bonum esse hominem solum; faciamus ei adiutorium simile sibi: “It is not good that man should be alone; Let us help him like him.” And then he created the woman” APD 46-47 n 82.
“In every family there is the father who earns the daily bread, and there is the mother who has the moral authority to guide the children and to influence the father himself, so that father and children may be saved. Thus, in the family of the Church: there is God the Father and there is Mary who is our mother and mother of the whole Church. This mother does not live for herself, the source of grace comes from the Father.” APD 46-47 n 83.
“Mary raised Jesus with her own milk. She prepared food, clothes and guided and assisted him. Here we see the corresponding duties: growing, nurturing, assisting. So great merit, every day, every moment, whether the duties at the service of the priesthood are carried out directly or indirectly” APD 46-47 No 87.
She was quietly carrying out her last service for priests, in silence, when in May of 2022, she manifested that she was suffering. It was something serious. In this way, her lung cancer was discovered. She spent her last days between Jinwakai hospital, and Sobu hospital, where she had been hospitalized. She had hoped to return to the community on February 10, her feast day, and the anniversary of the Congregation. However, in the early morning hours of February 6, 2023, she was called to the final encounter with her beloved Jesus the Master.
Sr. M. Scholastica Yamano, the first Japanese aspirant, remains indelibly impressed on our memories. With her permanent smile, even in her old age, she prayed for the priests and brothers of the Society of St. Paul. Her example of service and prayer showed us the splendor of consecrated life, the hope, joy, and beauty of eternal life.
Sr. M. Scholastica, now you are invited to the Heavenly Banquet, we invoke you with endless joy and we entrust to you the Pauline Family in the Far East, especially in Japan, where it is a place of great challenge for the our mission!