Amagasaki is a city of the working class, and many people facing difficulties in their daily lives come here seeking help and peace of mind.
Masses are also celebrated in four languages, Japanese, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, serving as a place of joy and unity for parishioners living far from their home countries.
We, the parishioners of Amagasaki Church, are committed to prayer and sharing as we stand in solidarity with neighboring Catholic churches.
Directives on Pastoral Care
| 1. A church welcoming to everyone | Accessible to those with physical disabilities |
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| Accommodating to families with young children | |
| Welcoming to all generations, from children to the elderly | |
| Welcoming to foreign nationals | |
| Capable of hosting weddings and funerals | |
| 2. A church open to the community | A church cherished as a local landmark. |
| A cherished hub for community interaction | |
| 3. A church to be passed on to the next generation | A mission hub for Catholic churches in Amagasaki City |
| Designed for long-term durability |
Parish Priest
Fr. Amado Antonio Caballero Ⅲ. (17th Parish Priest)
“With love, you can find endless ways to help others.” Saint Vincent de Paul
Fr. Amado Antonio Caballero Ⅲ. Congregatio Missionis
1966: Born in Quezon City, Philippines
1985: Entered the seminary (Congregation of the Mission / Vincentians)
1995: Ordained as a priest (June 24, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist)
1995: Mission Director for the Philippine Province
1999: Seminary Moderator
2003: Arrived in Japan; underwent Japanese language training (Osaka)
2005: Chaplain for the Japanese Province of the Sisters of Charity (resided in Tarumi)
2016: Returned to the Philippines
2016: Chaplain for the Asian Province of the Sisters of Charity
2023: Arrived in Japan on April 23; assumed the role of Parish Priest at Koshien Catholic Church
2024: Assumed the role of Parish Priest at Tarumi Catholic Church on March 3
2026: Assumed the role of Parish Priest at Amagasaki Catholic Church in April
Chronology of Amagasaki Church
| February 1927 | The Paris Foreign Missions Society begins missionary work at Nishihonmachi-Kitadori, Amagasaki City.Fr. Auguste Bersez arrives as the first parish priest. |
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| November 1927 | St. Paul Amagasaki Catholic Church is founded; 50 parishioners transfer from Shukugawa Church. |
| December 1928 | Fr. Georges Deluy arrives as the second parish priest. |
| October 1936 | Fr. Alfred Joseph Wutt arrives as the third parish priest. |
| November 1937 | Dedication ceremony for "Amagasaki Catholic Church" in Higashi-Nanba-cho, Amagasaki City. |
| June 1945 | The church building and rectory are destroyed by fire caused by incendiary bombs. |
| November 1948 | A new church building is constructed on the foundations of the previous one. |
| May 1953 | Fr. Jean Penkeres arrives as the fourth parish priest.Fr. Robert Ballard arrives as assistant priest. |
| August 1956 | Fr. Vincent Musica arrives as the fifth parish priest. |
| April 1965 | Fr. Peter Kiyoharu Hatahara arrives as the sixth parish priest.Assistant priest Arrival of Parish Priest Fr. Sebastian Yoshiharu Tsutsumi |
| March 1967 | Arrival of Assistant Priest Fr. Francis of Assisi Kagetoshi Kawasaki |
| December 1967 | Arrival of 7th Parish Priest Fr. Benedict Labre Tatsuo Ikefuji |
| April 1968 | Dedication ceremony of the new Kita-Daimotsu Church |
| September 1969 | Arrival of Assistant Priest Fr. Francis Xavier Tomio Akasako |
| February 1975 | Arrival of Assistant Priest Fr. Paul Miki Mikio Wada(No assistant priest appointed after his transfer in 1977) |
| October 9, 1977 | 50th Anniversary Ceremony |
| April 1979 | Arrival of 8th Parish Priest Fr. Peter Iwao Yoshikawa |
| May 1982 | Arrival of 9th Parish Priest Fr. John Den Hamasaki |
| April 1986 | Arrival of 10th Parish Priest Fr. Jean Meriau |
| March 21, 1987 | Ordination of Deacon Yutaka Kanda |
| July 5, 1987 | 60th Anniversary Ceremony |
| March 21, 1988 | Ordination of Father Peter Augustinus Yutaka Kanda |
| March 27, 1988 | First Mass of Father Yutaka Kanda |
| April 1991 | Arrival of the 11th Parish Priest, Father Vianney Hirokichi Ishihara |
| April 10, 1994 | Habit-vesting ceremony of Manami Kawamizu (Sisters of St. Joseph) |
| April 1995 | Arrival of the 12th Parish Priest, Father Raphael Takezo Matsumoto |
| March 24, 1996 | First profession of vows of Manami Kawamizu (Sisters of St. Joseph) |
| April 2000 | Arrival of the 13th Parish Priest, Father John O'Malley |
| March 23, 2002 | Final profession of vows of Monica Manami Kawamizu (Sisters of St. Joseph) |
| November 24, 2002 | 75th Anniversary Ceremony and Confirmation |
| April 2003 | Father Augustine Noda Masahiro appointed as the 14th parish priest. |
| April 2005 | Father Noel Austin appointed as the 15th parish priest. |
| April 2009 | Father Giovanni Delia appointed as the 16th parish priest. |
| April 21, 2010 | Purchase of the parking lot. |
| July 25, 2010 | Blessing ceremony for the parking lot (officiated by Father Kanda Yutaka). |
| December 6, 2013 | The reconstruction of the church was approved by the Archdiocese of Osaka. |
| November 27, 2015 | The ossuary was closed. |
| November 25, 2019 | Construction began. |
| December 20, 2020 | Dedication ceremony for the new church (celebrated by Archbishop Manyo Maeda). |
| March 21, 2021 | Thanksgiving Mass for the completion of the new church (celebrated by Father Akira Umehara). |
| April 2026 | Father Amado Caballero assumed office as the 17th parish priest. |
Stained Glass
There are three stained-glass windows in the new sanctuary of the Catholic Amagasaki Church: "The Holy Trinity" and "Saint Paul and His Fourteen Epistles" in the main sanctuary, and "The Conversion of Saul" in the small chapel.
Thanks to the efforts of the 16th parish priest, Father Giovanni, these windows were created by Father Mauro Moraletti of the Xaverian Missionaries, who had arrived in Japan in 1960.
The Trinity
The Trinity is a fundamental concept of Christianity, yet it is also a complex and profound idea. While it has been depicted in various paintings and diagrams throughout history and across the globe, this stained-glass window draws its inspiration from the *Holy Trinity* fresco by the early Renaissance painter Masaccio.
It portrays God the Father presenting the Son—who is depicted on the Cross—while the Holy Spirit, appearing in the visible form of a dove, descends from above.
Saint Paul and the Fourteen Epistles
This artwork symbolically depicts the fourteen epistles written by Saint Paul, who is also the patron saint of the Catholic Church in Amagasaki, for the New Testament. These letters have contributed profoundly to the teachings of the faith and the formation of the Church, serving as an eternal guide for us all.
The Conversion of Saul
This stained-glass window depicts the conversion of Saul (later known as Paul).
Because it is placed relatively low in the small chapel, one can get close enough to observe the fine details of the facial expressions.
Father Moraletti, who was staunchly opposed to violence, reportedly made a deliberate choice not to depict a sword.