John Graham MSC: A True Missionary of the Sacred Heart
by Priyo Susanto msc
Earlier in the year John celebrated 50 years of priesthood. This weekend he celebrates his 82nd birthday. This article by the MSC community leader in Japan appeared in the MSC Magazine.
This year John Graham MSC is celebrating his golden jubilee, 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He and his parish have been preparing a golden celebration in the parish. inviting the local bishop to celebrate the with a chrism Mass. He and his classmates have been preparing to celebrate the jubilee back in Australia. And the MSC Japan Region has been planning to have a community celebration in Nagoya. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all our plans.
Although he has always been interested in vocation to religious life, John joined the MSC when he was already 26 years old.
Graduated from Sydney University in 1959, John built his career in teaching mathematics and physics. He also, from an early age, has been attracted to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He said that he always had with him the picture of the Sacred Heart.
While studying at the university and then later while working as a high school teacher he joined the Aquinas Academy, a Catholic adult education for the Lay, run by the Marists. He nurtured his faith in this institution, but also was influenced by the Passionists through their retreats. He had with him the picture of Sacred Heart, educated in faith by Marists and spiritually led by the Passionists! And he decided to knock on the door of the MSC!
He entered the novitiate in 1964 and took his first vows in February 26, 1965. After the completion of his study in Philosophy and Theology he was ordained to the priesthood in May 9, 1970. His first ministry as MSC priest was teaching Math and Physics in the Chevalier College, from 1971 to 1973. The former Provincial Superior John Mulrooney was one of his students.
With Chris McPhee
His dream was as missionary to be sent to the mission. He applied to be sent to Japan, was granted and he was off to Japan in 1974. Since then, with his missionary zeal, he dedicated his life to the Japanese Church and the Japanese people. Learning a new language was not an easy task. He learnt his Japanese in a Japanese language school in Kamakura, and old city just south of Tokyo, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture for two years or so. After finishing the language school he came back to Nagoya and since then most of his missionary work were related to parish ministry, always in contact with the Catholics as well as the non-Catholics who came to the church searching for the truth. Despite facing many difficulties, he stayed faithful to his work, because he believes that it takes time to get used to the local language, culture and customs.
He has always drawn his strength to carry out his mission from the community of missionaries. He treasures the regular gathering and the sharing of prayers and experience. He treasures his commitment to the society, to the parish and to the people. He treasures the support from the parishioners with whom he works closely.
He is a true missionary. Though he has not seen results of his work in leaps and bounds such as the influx of people to the churches asking for baptism, he won’t give up in serving the people through his work of witnessing in parish and other charity involvements. He believes that Japan and Japanese church are still in need of the missionaries’ presence. True that the local priests are doing their best, but the spirituality side of the church is best shown by the religious missionaries. He believes that the missionary work has to be continued with the emphasis on promoting peace, since peace in the Christian belief has a universal value.
He is a true missionary of the Sacred Heart. It is his resolution that he has to continue to give witness to the love of the Sacred Heart. He feels the need to promote more the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
MSC in Japan 2019
