Portal de San Javier
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San Javier will begin a twinning process with the Japanese city of Taketa, the last place in Japan where San Francisco Javier was before leaving for Goa in India in 1542. The patron saint of San Javier is at the origin of this twinning promoted from Japan by Luis Luis Fontes from Murcia, a Jesuit Father who also has links with the municipality of San Javier where he spent the summer with his family.
Father Luis Fontes, who has been in Japan for more than 60 years, where he traveled influenced by the travels of San Francisco Javier, has been a professor at the University of Sofia, Tokyo and in recent years, commissioned by the authorities of Taketa , has taken care to value the remains of Christianity found in the city in whose surroundings the caves were discovered in which Christians practiced their religion when they were persecuted by the Japanese authorities.
The trail of San Francisco Javier made him think of the municipality of San Javier and after receiving the approval of the authorities of Taketa, to start an exchange with San Javier, Father Fontes visited the town last year accompanied by a representative of the mayor from the Japanese city, to expose the twinning project to Mayor José Miguel Luengo who also seconded it.
The mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo and the Councilor for Culture, David Martínez presented last night the twinning of cultural and religious origin but also aims to open other routes of tourism and business with the Oita Prefecture where Taketa is located.
Martinez will travel next Monday October 21 as the only municipal representative along with a delegation organized from the Parish of San Javier to Taketa where they will meet with the Mayor and the Governor of the Region, in addition to following the steps of San Francisco Javier as a missionary in area.
A Taketa commission will visit San Javier next spring as a step prior to the official twinning.
The mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo recalled the "enthusiasm" with which Father Fontes conveyed his idea of ​​joining the two cities with San Francisco Javier as a link and the illusion with which he has been welcomed in San Javier this exchange "which I hope is very fruitful."
After the presentation in which Jesus Fontes, brother of Father Fontes and the pastor of San Javier, Juan Prieto, also took part in the blessing, in the church of San Javier, of a sculpture of San Francisco Javier made by Juan José Quirós , a replica of the one he made in large size for the Plaza de España that will be delivered to the city of Taketa.
The event was attended by the Knights of Javier who will also send other gifts related to the Saint to Japan.
Source: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
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