Icon: Fr. Hiram Kano, Nebraska priest and saint

Icon from the Kano Healing Chapel at
Church of our Savior, North Platte,
written by Jane Tan Creti of Omaha
Psalm 28:8-11 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped; Therefore my heart dances for joy, and in my song will I praise him. The LORD is the strength of his people, a safe refuge for his anointed. Save your people and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Today is the commemoration of Fr. Hiram Kano, Nebraska priest and saint, who was arrested by the FBI in 1941 on the steps of his parish, Church of Our Savior, North Platte, just after celebrating Eucharist. When imprisoned in a Japanese Internment Camp, he rejoiced in his "special" calling to minister to the other imprisoned Japanese immigrants and American AWOL soldiers there, also teaching English and agriculture. Forty years later, when the US Government acknowledge the imprisonment to be false and offered money in reparations, Fr. Kano told his bishop, "I don't want the money. God just used that as another opportunity for me to preach the gospel."

Almighty God who has reconciled the world to yourself through Christ: Entrust to your church the ministry of reconciliation as you did to your servant Hiram Hisanori Kano, and raise up ambassadors for Christ to proclaim your love and peace wherever conflict and hatred divide; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

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