Kanéi Yamashiro, one of the eight children of Kansho and Omito Tome-Yamashiro was born on March 1, 1932, in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. At the time of his birth, Kanéi's father was the assistant headmaster of the Kakinohana Primary School in Naha where he would attend from 1938 till 1944.
When Kanéi was in the fourth grade, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. From that moment on, Okinawa was no longer a peaceful, quiet island in the Ryukyu chain. The entire island was mobilized for war. By the end of March 1945, during the American pre-invasion air raids, Kanéi and his family fled to the mountains for shelter. They remained there during the invasion and until the end of July 1945, suffering from sickness and starvation. It was during this time that his mother, father and sister died.
In order to financially assist his family, Kanéi was employed at the Naha Air Force Base as a restaurant worker from 1948 until 1950, and later a contracting manager for a salvage company from 1951 till 1959.
In 1959, Kanéi moved to the United States under a work-study program and began his studies in business administration at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. He later continued his studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, receiving his B.S. in accounting in 1963.
During his stay in South Orange, he also worked as a Japanese language instructor at the Berlitz Language School in Montclair, NJ. It was during his studies at Seton Hall that Kanéi met Capuchin Friar Dominic Silvestro, who was also studying at the University. He was deeply impressed when he learned that Dominic had been an M.I.T. graduate before deciding to study for the priesthood.
In the summer of 1960, Dominic invited Kanéi to spend a few days at St. Francis Retreat House in Garrison, New York. It was there that he befriended Mrs. Virginia Cunningham, a convert, who was the cook at the retreat house. She offered him a copy of Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain and according to Francis, read it without interruption. When he returned to Seton Hall in September, he began taking instructions from the spiritual director of the College.
On June 25, 1961, Kanéi Yamashiro was baptized Francis by Father Dominic Silvestro. Following graduation, Francis returned to Okinawa and began Latin studies at the Saint Sulpice Seminary in Fukuoka, Japan until 1966. In the summer of 1967, he returned to the United States and was invested as a novice at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA, on August 31, 1967.
After his first profession on September 1, 1968, Francis continued his studies for the priesthood at the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison between 1968 and 1970, and the Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, New York, from 1970 until 1972.
On December 15, 1971, Francis returned to Okinawa and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1971 by Capuchin Bishop Felix Ley, Apostolic Administrator of the Ryukyu Islands. Francis Kanéi Yamashiro became thus, the first Capuchin Franciscan Friar from Okinawa.
Following ordination, Francis returned to Garrison to complete his theological studies at Maryknoll. Between June and October 1972, Francis also took courses at Columbia University while residing with the community of Our Lady Queen of Angels in New York City.
For twenty years Francis walked a road of suffering. A diagnosis of cancer could not deprive him of the joy from flute playing or fishing. Yet after 1981, his life was a steady martyrdom. In constant suffering, he still enjoyed the company of Friars and friends. A prayer that he said daily in his final months sums up his spirit: "O my Saviour, through the merits of your precious blood, wash from my soul all stain of sin." He prepared the homily at his Funeral Mass, which said in part: "Now through death I have been called into the very presence of God so that I may see Him face to face."
During a twelve year period, he underwent seven major operations and finally received his peaceful eternal reward on January 9, 1987, at the age of fifty four.
On January 9, 2011, a Mass was celebrated in Naha, Okinawa, Japan for the 25th Anniversary of his death. The Mass was requested by his family, although most are not Catholics. Naha Bishop Berard Oshikawa OFM. Conv., presided with retired Bishop Peter Baptist Ishigami OFM. Cap., and attended by the Community of Saint Francis in Naha.
Many faithful participated in the celebration. After the Mass, the customary offerings of incense were made at the table in front of the altar, at the adjoining mausoleum, where a part of his cremated remains are preserved.
When Kanéi was in the fourth grade, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. From that moment on, Okinawa was no longer a peaceful, quiet island in the Ryukyu chain. The entire island was mobilized for war. By the end of March 1945, during the American pre-invasion air raids, Kanéi and his family fled to the mountains for shelter. They remained there during the invasion and until the end of July 1945, suffering from sickness and starvation. It was during this time that his mother, father and sister died.
In order to financially assist his family, Kanéi was employed at the Naha Air Force Base as a restaurant worker from 1948 until 1950, and later a contracting manager for a salvage company from 1951 till 1959.
In 1959, Kanéi moved to the United States under a work-study program and began his studies in business administration at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. He later continued his studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, receiving his B.S. in accounting in 1963.
During his stay in South Orange, he also worked as a Japanese language instructor at the Berlitz Language School in Montclair, NJ. It was during his studies at Seton Hall that Kanéi met Capuchin Friar Dominic Silvestro, who was also studying at the University. He was deeply impressed when he learned that Dominic had been an M.I.T. graduate before deciding to study for the priesthood.
In the summer of 1960, Dominic invited Kanéi to spend a few days at St. Francis Retreat House in Garrison, New York. It was there that he befriended Mrs. Virginia Cunningham, a convert, who was the cook at the retreat house. She offered him a copy of Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain and according to Francis, read it without interruption. When he returned to Seton Hall in September, he began taking instructions from the spiritual director of the College.
On June 25, 1961, Kanéi Yamashiro was baptized Francis by Father Dominic Silvestro. Following graduation, Francis returned to Okinawa and began Latin studies at the Saint Sulpice Seminary in Fukuoka, Japan until 1966. In the summer of 1967, he returned to the United States and was invested as a novice at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA, on August 31, 1967.
After his first profession on September 1, 1968, Francis continued his studies for the priesthood at the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison between 1968 and 1970, and the Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, New York, from 1970 until 1972.
On December 15, 1971, Francis returned to Okinawa and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1971 by Capuchin Bishop Felix Ley, Apostolic Administrator of the Ryukyu Islands. Francis Kanéi Yamashiro became thus, the first Capuchin Franciscan Friar from Okinawa.
Following ordination, Francis returned to Garrison to complete his theological studies at Maryknoll. Between June and October 1972, Francis also took courses at Columbia University while residing with the community of Our Lady Queen of Angels in New York City.
For twenty years Francis walked a road of suffering. A diagnosis of cancer could not deprive him of the joy from flute playing or fishing. Yet after 1981, his life was a steady martyrdom. In constant suffering, he still enjoyed the company of Friars and friends. A prayer that he said daily in his final months sums up his spirit: "O my Saviour, through the merits of your precious blood, wash from my soul all stain of sin." He prepared the homily at his Funeral Mass, which said in part: "Now through death I have been called into the very presence of God so that I may see Him face to face."
During a twelve year period, he underwent seven major operations and finally received his peaceful eternal reward on January 9, 1987, at the age of fifty four.
On January 9, 2011, a Mass was celebrated in Naha, Okinawa, Japan for the 25th Anniversary of his death. The Mass was requested by his family, although most are not Catholics. Naha Bishop Berard Oshikawa OFM. Conv., presided with retired Bishop Peter Baptist Ishigami OFM. Cap., and attended by the Community of Saint Francis in Naha.
Many faithful participated in the celebration. After the Mass, the customary offerings of incense were made at the table in front of the altar, at the adjoining mausoleum, where a part of his cremated remains are preserved.
Kanéi Yamashiro, one of the eight children of Kansho and Omito Tome-Yamashiro was born on March 1, 1932, in Naha, Okinawa, Japan. At the time of his birth, Kanéi's father was the assistant headmaster of the Kakinohana Primary School in Naha where he would attend from 1938 till 1944.
When Kanéi was in the fourth grade, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. From that moment on, Okinawa was no longer a peaceful, quiet island in the Ryukyu chain. The entire island was mobilized for war. By the end of March 1945, during the American pre-invasion air raids, Kanéi and his family fled to the mountains for shelter. They remained there during the invasion and until the end of July 1945, suffering from sickness and starvation. It was during this time that his mother, father and sister died.
In order to financially assist his family, Kanéi was employed at the Naha Air Force Base as a restaurant worker from 1948 until 1950, and later a contracting manager for a salvage company from 1951 till 1959.
In 1959, Kanéi moved to the United States under a work-study program and began his studies in business administration at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. He later continued his studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, receiving his B.S. in accounting in 1963.
During his stay in South Orange, he also worked as a Japanese language instructor at the Berlitz Language School in Montclair, NJ. It was during his studies at Seton Hall that Kanéi met Capuchin Friar Dominic Silvestro, who was also studying at the University. He was deeply impressed when he learned that Dominic had been an M.I.T. graduate before deciding to study for the priesthood.
In the summer of 1960, Dominic invited Kanéi to spend a few days at St. Francis Retreat House in Garrison, New York. It was there that he befriended Mrs. Virginia Cunningham, a convert, who was the cook at the retreat house. She offered him a copy of Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain and according to Francis, read it without interruption. When he returned to Seton Hall in September, he began taking instructions from the spiritual director of the College.
On June 25, 1961, Kanéi Yamashiro was baptized Francis by Father Dominic Silvestro. Following graduation, Francis returned to Okinawa and began Latin studies at the Saint Sulpice Seminary in Fukuoka, Japan until 1966. In the summer of 1967, he returned to the United States and was invested as a novice at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA, on August 31, 1967.
After his first profession on September 1, 1968, Francis continued his studies for the priesthood at the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison between 1968 and 1970, and the Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, New York, from 1970 until 1972.
On December 15, 1971, Francis returned to Okinawa and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1971 by Capuchin Bishop Felix Ley, Apostolic Administrator of the Ryukyu Islands. Francis Kanéi Yamashiro became thus, the first Capuchin Franciscan Friar from Okinawa.
Following ordination, Francis returned to Garrison to complete his theological studies at Maryknoll. Between June and October 1972, Francis also took courses at Columbia University while residing with the community of Our Lady Queen of Angels in New York City.
For twenty years Francis walked a road of suffering. A diagnosis of cancer could not deprive him of the joy from flute playing or fishing. Yet after 1981, his life was a steady martyrdom. In constant suffering, he still enjoyed the company of Friars and friends. A prayer that he said daily in his final months sums up his spirit: "O my Saviour, through the merits of your precious blood, wash from my soul all stain of sin." He prepared the homily at his Funeral Mass, which said in part: "Now through death I have been called into the very presence of God so that I may see Him face to face."
During a twelve year period, he underwent seven major operations and finally received his peaceful eternal reward on January 9, 1987, at the age of fifty four.
On January 9, 2011, a Mass was celebrated in Naha, Okinawa, Japan for the 25th Anniversary of his death. The Mass was requested by his family, although most are not Catholics. Naha Bishop Berard Oshikawa OFM. Conv., presided with retired Bishop Peter Baptist Ishigami OFM. Cap., and attended by the Community of Saint Francis in Naha.
Many faithful participated in the celebration. After the Mass, the customary offerings of incense were made at the table in front of the altar, at the adjoining mausoleum, where a part of his cremated remains are preserved.
When Kanéi was in the fourth grade, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. From that moment on, Okinawa was no longer a peaceful, quiet island in the Ryukyu chain. The entire island was mobilized for war. By the end of March 1945, during the American pre-invasion air raids, Kanéi and his family fled to the mountains for shelter. They remained there during the invasion and until the end of July 1945, suffering from sickness and starvation. It was during this time that his mother, father and sister died.
In order to financially assist his family, Kanéi was employed at the Naha Air Force Base as a restaurant worker from 1948 until 1950, and later a contracting manager for a salvage company from 1951 till 1959.
In 1959, Kanéi moved to the United States under a work-study program and began his studies in business administration at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. He later continued his studies at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, receiving his B.S. in accounting in 1963.
During his stay in South Orange, he also worked as a Japanese language instructor at the Berlitz Language School in Montclair, NJ. It was during his studies at Seton Hall that Kanéi met Capuchin Friar Dominic Silvestro, who was also studying at the University. He was deeply impressed when he learned that Dominic had been an M.I.T. graduate before deciding to study for the priesthood.
In the summer of 1960, Dominic invited Kanéi to spend a few days at St. Francis Retreat House in Garrison, New York. It was there that he befriended Mrs. Virginia Cunningham, a convert, who was the cook at the retreat house. She offered him a copy of Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain and according to Francis, read it without interruption. When he returned to Seton Hall in September, he began taking instructions from the spiritual director of the College.
On June 25, 1961, Kanéi Yamashiro was baptized Francis by Father Dominic Silvestro. Following graduation, Francis returned to Okinawa and began Latin studies at the Saint Sulpice Seminary in Fukuoka, Japan until 1966. In the summer of 1967, he returned to the United States and was invested as a novice at St. Lawrence Friary in Milton, MA, on August 31, 1967.
After his first profession on September 1, 1968, Francis continued his studies for the priesthood at the Capuchin Theological Seminary in Garrison between 1968 and 1970, and the Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, New York, from 1970 until 1972.
On December 15, 1971, Francis returned to Okinawa and was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1971 by Capuchin Bishop Felix Ley, Apostolic Administrator of the Ryukyu Islands. Francis Kanéi Yamashiro became thus, the first Capuchin Franciscan Friar from Okinawa.
Following ordination, Francis returned to Garrison to complete his theological studies at Maryknoll. Between June and October 1972, Francis also took courses at Columbia University while residing with the community of Our Lady Queen of Angels in New York City.
For twenty years Francis walked a road of suffering. A diagnosis of cancer could not deprive him of the joy from flute playing or fishing. Yet after 1981, his life was a steady martyrdom. In constant suffering, he still enjoyed the company of Friars and friends. A prayer that he said daily in his final months sums up his spirit: "O my Saviour, through the merits of your precious blood, wash from my soul all stain of sin." He prepared the homily at his Funeral Mass, which said in part: "Now through death I have been called into the very presence of God so that I may see Him face to face."
During a twelve year period, he underwent seven major operations and finally received his peaceful eternal reward on January 9, 1987, at the age of fifty four.
On January 9, 2011, a Mass was celebrated in Naha, Okinawa, Japan for the 25th Anniversary of his death. The Mass was requested by his family, although most are not Catholics. Naha Bishop Berard Oshikawa OFM. Conv., presided with retired Bishop Peter Baptist Ishigami OFM. Cap., and attended by the Community of Saint Francis in Naha.
Many faithful participated in the celebration. After the Mass, the customary offerings of incense were made at the table in front of the altar, at the adjoining mausoleum, where a part of his cremated remains are preserved.
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