Pope Francis appoints a cicm priest to head Japan diocese

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On December 8, 2021 the Holy Father appointed Fr. Edgar Gacutan, CICM, member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionaries of Scheut), currently parish priest of Matsubara, Tokyo, as Bishop of the Diocese of Sendai (Japan). Mgr. Edgar Gacutan, C.I.C.M., was born on September 23, 1964 in Enrile, Cagayan Province, in the Philippines. He is a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (C.I.C.M.) and professed his perpetual vows on June 2, 1991. From 1981 to 1985 he studied Philosophy at Saint Louis University in Baguio and from 1986 to 1989 Theology at Maryhill School of Theology in Manila. On February 27, 1990 he arrived in Japan and in 1993 he returned to the Philippines to complete his theological studies at the same University. He was ordained a priest on April 23, 1994 in Enrile, in May 1994 he was sent back to Japan.

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cicm bishop in Japan

May the Good Lord bless our confrere in his new ministry!

Since his priestly ordination he has held the following positions in his own religious community: Coordination of trainees (1994-1995); Member of the Provincial Council (1995-1999); Trainee Director (1997-2003); Vice-Provincial C.I.C.M. in Japan (1999-2003)

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heiwa Nurseries and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Junshin Gakuin High School in Himeji (2002-2020); Provincial C.I.C.M. in Japan (2004-2012); Member of the General Finance Committee (2009-2020) and since 2020 Regional Superior of Japan.

He also held the following pastoral duties: Parish Vicar of Kongo, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Osaka (1994-1997); Director of Youth Catholic Workers in Osaka (1997-2004)

Parish priest of Ofunato, in the Diocese of Sendai, and Director of the Ofunato base (for the reconstruction after the tsunami) (2013-2017). Since 2017 up to now he has been parish priest of Matsubara, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tokyo.