On May 25 (Saturday) and May 27 (Monday), Gakurin seminarians from the 60th and 61st Daiju Programs and the 31st International Program joined hands with the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity (MC) in an interfaith outreach initiative to support people experiencing hardship in Tokyo’s Sanya district. Working side by side, they provided not only warm meals but also encouragement and compassionate support to people facing difficult circumstances.
The seminarians began the day by preparing ingredients alongside the sisters at Mother Teresa House, where they took part in every stage of the meal program—from food preparation and cooking to serving meals. Offering each meal with care and respect to every guest was at the heart of the activity. The initiative also served as a powerful example of interfaith cooperation, bringing together people of Christian and Buddhist faiths to work side by side toward the shared goal of supporting those in need with compassion and dignity.
Rissho Kosei-kai and the Missionaries of Charity have cultivated a longstanding friendship and cooperation. Over the years, youth delegations from Rissho Kosei-kai have visited the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, participating in humanitarian service activities and deepening bonds of interfaith collaboration. This relationship is further enriched by the shared legacy of Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) and Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, Founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, both of whom were recipients of the Templeton Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious awards honoring contributions to spiritual progress. Their pioneering commitment to compassion, dialogue, and service continues to stand as an inspiring symbol of interfaith cooperation.
Left: Saint Teresa of Calcutta | Right: Founder Niwano Nikkyo of Rissho Kosei-kai
On May 25, the seminarians prepared 309 servings of curry rice and seasoned rice, which were personally distributed to people experiencing hardship who had gathered near Shirahige Bridge to receive a meal. On May 27, the group returned to the Missionaries of Charity, where they prepared and served hot Udon noodles before joining an outreach effort to distribute boxed meals to people living along the Sumida River. Through these on-site volunteer activities, the seminarians had the opportunity to engage directly with those in need while putting compassion into practice through service.
Reflecting on the experience, the seminarians shared that working side by side across differences in faith enabled them to experience the importance of cooperation in action and to deepen their understanding of Christian love and Buddhist compassion through their own acts of service. The spirit of interfaith cooperation and mutual understanding embodied in this initiative represents a meaningful step toward building a society in which people of diverse faiths and backgrounds can live together in peace.
