----- Memo from Father Graham McDonnell ------
Father James Hyatt died in Kyoto on January 14th, 2009 at 7:21 a.m. at the hospital where he has been a patient for the last month. At the moment of his death an earthquake with a magnitude of 4 was felt in Kyoto. This event was highlighted in "blogs" written about Father Hyatt's death by many of his friends.
The Cathedral of Kyoto was packed for both the the wake and the funeral, which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Tokyo. He officiated as the "chief mourner," a role in Japanese society usually carried out by a close relative.
Bishop Paul Otsuka of Kyoto delivered the following homily at the funeral in the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier, Kyoto, Japan on January 17th, 2009.
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Fifty-two years ago in 1957, with the words, "Do not complain ... Do something to brighten the world," a radio program was started in Kyoto by the Good Shepherd Movement, later known as the Light of the Heart Movement. It was the idea of an American Maryknoll priest, Father James F. Hyatt.
In the words of St Paul, Father Hyatt can say at the end of his long life, "I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course." He was called to the Lord on January 14th at the age of 86.
God flooded Father Hyatt with the grace of faith, and called him as a missionary to Japan. He answered this call of God with all his heart, serving as a priest for almost 60 years. If someone were to ask, "What did this person do with his life?" the answer would have to be, "He was a man with a mission from Christ to work with many for the salvation of many."
Father Hyatt was born in Idaho in 1922, and was ordained at Maryknoll, the Foreign Mission Society of America, on June 11, 1949. Two months later he arrived in Japan. In 1950 he was an assistant here at the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier. This was where he took his first steps as a missionary in Japan.
The Good Shepherd Movement, or the YBU, as it is called in Japan, got its start two years later in 1952, on the 4th Sunday after Easter, when Jesus tells his disciples in John's gospel, "I am the Good Shepherd." (John 10:14)
Those words, which Father Hyatt had heard many times, caught his attention. He resolved, "I too will learn from the Good Shepherd and will try to lead as many persons as possible to his Church." In that way, God entrusted him with a special mission in life.
Father Hyatt had an original, epoch-making idea of using all the means of mass media--radio, television, printing, correspondence courses and, eventually, the Internet--in spreading the Good News of Christ to all of the Japanese people.
Starting with one radio station in 1958, Father Hyatt's daily program, The "Light of the Heart" has been heard by countless thousands who love the catch phrase, "Do not complain ... Do something to brighten the world." Today, 50 years later, 38 radio networks carry the program nationwide. It is the longest-running program on Japanese radio.
When the subject of missionary mass-media comes up, it goes without question that a great deal of money is involved. When Father Hyatt came to Japan, he had $500 for this work. He was determined to work with radio until the money ran out.
Father Hyatt was known as a good business man who could drive a hard bargain, but the lanky, young priest would answer critics in a low, quiet voice. "This work will succeed if God wants it." The radio station people were beguiled by his strong faith which convinced them to help.
For six years, Father Hyatt wrote all the manuscripts for the daily program, until Mrs. Sumie Tanaka, the leading Catholic author in Japan, and other author-friends, started writing for him. She also recruited Momoko Kochi, a young actress, to narrate the broadcasts. Thirty years later, near the end of her career, Miss Kochi called the radio program her "life work." She received baptism shortly before she died.
My first memory of Father Hyatt was when I was in grammar school. He met all of the foreigners who came to this church for Mass on Sundays, asking them to help support the work.
Along with his mass-media mission work, Father Hyatt founded an English Conversation School in Kyoto. He used that contact with young people as another means of spreading the Gospel. The school was called the YBU, where I studied conversational English in my college days. I thought YBU meant "Young Boys University," but later realized that YBU was taken from the Japanese, "Yoki Bokusha no Undo," which means "Good Shepherd Movement" in English.
Another activity developed by Father Hyatt was pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Forty years ago, when group tours to foreign lands were still a novelty, he sponsored one of the first pilgrimages from Japan to the Holy Land. For 20 years, he led a total of 44 trips to holy places in Israel and Europe. These trips were the source of faith for many persons who later received Baptism.
When Pope John Paul II came to Japan in 1981, Father Hyatt helped Nihon Television (NTV) stage a meeting between the Holy Father and young people, entitled "Young and Pope." It was aired for 90 minutes on prime-time. The network also produced a series of 15-minute documentaries of the Holy Father's three stops in Japan for the "Light of the Heart" television program.
One of Father Hyatt's favorite Bible quotes can be found in today's Gospel. "Come to me, all of you who are weary, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28) It is impossible to know how many people have been consoled by these words of Jesus, spread throughout Japan by the "Light of the Heart" radio and television programs over the years. Countless persons have been helped and encouraged.
At the ordination of a priest, the bishop says, "Those of you who are to become priests do so because of Christ. You receive the words of Jesus so that you are able to teach and instruct others about holy things. Receive these gifts joyfully and share them freely." This is what Father Hyatt has done with the mass-media used by the Light of the Heart Movement. He has transmitted God's love and life to many people, enabling them to bear their burdens.
Father Hyatt had a special way of talking to people in a quiet, unassuming manner about God that was easy to understand. People were magnetized by his attitude, which radiated the spirit of Christ. Father Hyatt was not simply a good performer, he reflected the joy of Christ, which he had learned from the Good Shepherd. When he spoke, it was with a voice that reached many wandering sheep of of the Lord.
Father Hyatt and Father McDonnell, as Maryknoll priests, and later, as priests of the Tokyo Archdiocese, have carried on their work as a close team. Father Hyatt celebrated his 50th anniversary in 1999, and started his 60th year as a priest in Japan in January of this year. Father McDonnell celebrated his 50th anniversary last year.
In recent years, Father Hyatt could often be seen riding his electric scooter around the neighborhood, flashing his friendly smile to all he encountered. Now that face rests in the peace of the Lord, back home with God.
We should not be saddened by his death. I think he would say, "Keep up the good work of spreading the Good News of Jesus in Japan. This challenge will last until the end of the world." Let's follow the words he loves, "Do not complain. ... Do something to brighten the world," Let's join together in faith and give witness to God.
Last of all, one of Father Hyatt's nephews, John Zeger, has come to Japan as a representative of the Hyatt family. I wish to extend my condolences to him and to the entire family. Father Hyatt worked as a missionary in Japan for 60 years, carrying out his wonderful mission to the very end. I am sure that God is now saying to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into my kingdom prepared for you since the beginning of the world."
I am sure that he and his parents in Heaven are watching the large number of people who have come here to pay their respects. As they listen to the words of praise and gratitude for their son, whom I am sure, they are praising to the skies. "James, you certainly did a lot of good things for the Lord."
I wish to join all of you who have been touched in some way by the life of Father Hyatt. Although my words are inadequate, I too wish to unite with you in prayer that God give the graces of everlasting life to Father Hyatt.
Father Hyatt, thank you for so many years of loving service to the people of Japan.
