In 1953, a Catholic church was built for residents of Keifuen. Records indicate that the history of Catholic belief at Keifuen began at the beginning of the Taisho Period (1912 - 1926). Documents show that at this time, the facility already routinely had a priest from outside come in one day during the third week of each month and spread Catholic teachings to residents. Additionally, it is said that sisters from Tairoin, a Catholic private sanatorium for Hansen’s Disease based in Kumamoto City, also visited Keifuen’s residents. Moved by such teachings, the residents, near the end of the Taisho Period, around 1926, established the Catholic Gyoseikai, a resident-run religious organization. In the pre-Pacific War period, the independent Catholic Gyoseikai did not have its own establishment and instead set up an altar alongside other religious groups inside a building called the worship hall. After the war, however, this Catholic church would end up being built with the support of donations from the Diocese of Fukuoka. Even today, external priests visit the church and hold Mass with residents.
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National Sanatorium Kikuchi Keifuen History museum
Records indicate that the history of Catholic belief at Keifuen began at the beginning of the Taisho Period (1912 - 1926). Documents show that at this time, the facility already routinely had a priest from outside come in one day during the third week of each month and spread Catholic teachings to residents. Additionally, it is said that sisters from Tairoin, a Catholic private sanatorium for Hansen’s Disease based in Kumamoto City, also visited Keifuen’s residents. Moved by such teachings, the residents, near the end of the Taisho Period, around 1926, established the Catholic Gyoseikai, a resident-run religious organization.
In the pre-Pacific War period, the independent Catholic Gyoseikai did not have its own establishment and instead set up an altar alongside other religious groups inside a building called the worship hall. After the war, however, this Catholic church would end up being built with the support of donations from the Diocese of Fukuoka.
Even today, external priests visit the church and hold Mass with residents.