The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-28
A FERVENT JAPANESE
OF CALIFORNIA MIS-
SION FOR CATHOLIC COUNTRY
MEN-JAPANESE LAY APOSTLE
DIES OF INFLUENZA AT Los
ANGELES.

John Baptist Hatakeyama, known
to many as Leo, the name he took in
Confirmation, died last week at Los
Angeles, Calf, of influenza. This
young man of thirty-four, in his short
span of life, had been the means of
establishing the Japanese Catholic
Mission in California.
In his faraway native land of Japan
Leo had received the gift of faith.
He later fought for his country in the
Russian-Japanese war and rendered
valiant service on the battlefield.
When peace was established, he found
his way to California, where, at the
time of his death he had lived for
twelve years.
When this young man of twenty
two entered into the life of a strange
land he was alone. His only armor
was the light and grace of his Chris
tian faith. Amid the distractions and
temptations of life, in different sur
roundings he never lost his love for
the things of God, for prayer and for
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 1t was
grievous trial to him that when he
most needed the help of sacramental
grace he could not avail himself of
this great assistance because he spoke
an alien tongue and there was none
to understand. After six years of ex-
lie from the Holy Table he resolved
to make an extraordinary appeal to his
Bishop in Japan, for his soul was hum
CRY for the Bread of Life. He wrote
to ask if he might make his confess
sion by registered mail
One day in the winter of 1912 Right
Rev. Bishop Conaty received a letter.
from the Bishop of Hakodate in jas
pan In this letter, the story of the
young Japanese exile was told. 1t
happened at that time that the Rev.
Albert Breton, missionary who had
been attached to the Japanese Mis-
sions, was returning to Japan after a;
short respite in Europe. He was to
pass through Los Angeles The Bish-
OPP of Hakodate suggested that Father
Breton be detained to minister to the
spiritual needs of the Japanese in
California for as long period as
might be deemed necessary by Bishop
Conaty
And so it came about that Father
Breton remained to establish the jap
anese Mission in California. Brown.
son House gave the first hospitality
to the work. On Christmas day, 1912,
Father Breton celebrated Mass in the
Settlement Chapel for the Japanese
Christians, spoke to them in their ma
tive language and administered to
them the Holy Sacraments. For the
four. years succeeding, Father Breton
celebrated Mass at Browflson House
every Sunday. The congregation that
filled the Settlement Chapel can new
.er forget the ipiety which. Leo.
approached the aaltar weekly during
those years. .ieThere was sincere,
unobtrusive reverence in his demean-
or which betokened true sanctity.
Every day in the week one who
walked into the store of the III. Jevne
Co. could see Leo, smiling, Well
groomed, as he went cheerfully about
his work. He was always attentive,
courteous, Industrious, faithful. When
noon time came, with its hour of lest,
one who followed his footsteps wo I'D
find him seeking the quiet Of the Ca
thedral of st. Vibiana and kneeling
before the altar there. The erect,
manly figure and handsome face of
He .yInI,,aoe IanannSn will saluyavSs he no.
smembered by those who saw him
wrapped in prayer before the Sacra-
mental Presence of the Master. He
seemed oblivious Of all else. and on.
his face was a look that indicated,
complete union with God.