In this new phase of Fuku’s life, the Rumanian born Monsignor Vladimir Ghika came to Japan accompanied by three Carmel sisters in 1933. Msgr. Ghika was a close friend of Fr. Totsuka’s when he was in France. He visited the clinic in Nishi-koyama to enjoy a reunion with Fr. Totsuka. Fuku met Msgr. Ghika through Fr. Totsuka.

　When Msgr. Ghika’s visit was close to its end, Easter was approaching. Fuku wholeheartedly prayed for nine days prior to the Easter. On the day of Easter, the Monsignor blessed those who attended the mass with the relic of the Holy Crown. Among them was Fuku, who after the blessing found herself walking with ease. She became even more committed to Dr. Totsuka’s project for the care of tuberculosis patients.

　Tuberculosis was the typical epidemic in Japan around that time. Fuku went through many experiences with the patients and learned of their dire conditions. Most of the patients and their family were afraid to be known to have the lethal disease. Without help, they were isolated in poverty and hopelessness. She did all she could to

serve those people and, in turn, became even more humble. In the mean time, Fr. Totsuka’s work was ever growing and multiplying. He decided to open a new hospital in the suburb of Tokyo called Sakuramachi in Koganei. He worked frantically to bring the project to fruition. However, his hard work caught up with him and he had a series of heart attacks. In spite of Fuku and his other colleagues’ intense care, Fr. Totsuka passed away in August, 1939, only two months before the Sakuramachi Hospital was to be inaugurated.

　Fuku saw the inauguration of the hospital. In the face of her mentor’s death and then the launch of the hospital, she thought it was time for her to enter the path of contemplation which she had long aspired to. She called upon Archbishop Doi to talk about her intent. The archbishop immediately opposed her idea. He urged her to found a community instead to take care of the patients and to direct the hospital. Unable to respond to his advice immediately, Fuku took his words back with her to Sakuramachi. She prayed for days and nights, contemplating what God’s plan for her would be. Finally she concluded that following the advice of Archbishop Doi, rather than pursuing her own wishes, would be the best way to honor God. Thus, the congregation of The Missionary Sisters of St. John the Evangelist was conceived. Fuku later reflected, “Archbishop Doi is the one who gave life to our congregation. He willingly gave us all the support, both tangible and intangible.” She often said, “God does great things through the insignificant.”

　The following years Fuku was busy hatching the community while managing the hospital. Working closely with Fuku Totsuka, Shige Murai, and Father Punsmann from Germany, the necessary documents to start a congregation were compiled and sent to the Vatican through Archbishop Doi. Finally in February 1944 approval came from Rome and the following June, Fuku along with Shige and the other Fuku was professed.

　Given the devastation of Japan in the midst of World War II, it was a miracle this small convent was born and survived. Needless to say, Fuku, with the support of her friends, alumnae, church members, neighborhood, and community, took painstaking labor to run the hospital during and post war.

　In the following years, led now by the Mother Okamura, the members of the Missionary Sisters made strenuous efforts not only to run the hospital, but also to take care of war orphans. The congregation took over an orphanage in 1951, and in the following year their work was legally approved to be a social welfare organisation, now called St. John’s Society, as the new government’s social work law was enacted. In the mean time there was a strong need for special care for those who were intellectually challenged among the orphans. Trying to meet these needs, Mother Okamura and Sister Kawakubo went on a fund raising trip to the United States in 1954. Finally in 1956 their new institute for the intellectually challenged was opened in Hachioji, Tokyo.

　In 1963 Mother Fuku Okamura was awarded a state medal for her contribution to social work - a reward for her and her congregation’s constant charity for the “least.”

　Mother’s health had been deteriorating steadily. She had suffered headaches from herpes since 1958 but, despite this, she kept working tirelessly for more than a decade. She resigned her post as Superior General in 1973. Even after Mother Okamura retired from official work, she kept serving the patients and the congregation in various ways.

　In 1982, embraced by God and cared by the sisters of the community, Mother Fuku Okamura’s life ended aged 82 at the very hospital she started. Her life was that of prayers and compassion for the least, particularly for the sick and marginalised. She committed her life to God’s plan rather than her own until her very last breath.

　However, soon after his appointment to Hokkaido University, the Ministry of Education sent him to study in Pasteur Institute, Paris. While in France he went to England one summer as suggested by his friend Soichi, and visited a Franciscan convent St. Gabriel’s in Cold Ash, Berkshire where he met a young nun. Talking with her, he was struck by God’s voice sounding in his ears and heart like a thunder. It was there that he made a dramatic turn in his life. He heard the call to the priesthood. He was given a vision that someday he would build a Catholic hospital in Japan as a House of God to work there to heal the sick and care for their souls.

　Naturally his parents were disappointed to hear of Bunkei’s decision. They expected their son to become a leading medical doctor and teach in a prestigious medical school as the previous generations of the family had always done.

　Bunkei changed his course and studied Latin and philosophy from Fr. Corato in London to prepare for ordination. At the same time he was also designing a community of service called the "Le Bon Samaritan" with a group of friends. The mission of this community was evangelism by incorporating medicine and social work. That community came to fruit in Japan.

　While he was studying theology in Paris he met Prince Vladimir Ghika. Soon they became good friends. Ghika at the time was partly involved in the conception and preparation of the Bon Samaritan. In 1924, Bunkei was ordained a priest at Grand Seminaire Saint-Surplice in the vicinity of Paris, one year after Prince Ghika was ordained.

　Bunkei returned to Japan with a great determination to build a hospital of love and prayer in Tokyo. In 1925 immediately after his return he embarked on founding St. John’s Bon’ai Clinic in Shinagawa, Tokyo and started his work as doctor and priest while assembling people who would be willing to take part in his project from all walks of life, women or men. Inspired by his enthusiasm many people, including Fuku Okamura, supported him and worked together for the sick with formidable dedication. In 1929 he also launched the Nazareth House, a tuberculosis sanatorium for youth.

　In addition to his clinical and pastoral work, he translated as well as authored numerous articles and books on the stories of Catholic saints. He also served as the chief editor of the Catholic Newspaper, professor at the Catholic Seminary in the Archdiocese of Tokyo, and the director of the International Catholic Hospital of St. Mary.

　In 1932 he moved his clinic to Nishi-koyama to expand his work. Two years later, a church was built next to the clinic. Now his clinic and the church had really became a House of God.

　In 1933 the now Monsignor Ghika came to Japan with three Carmelite sisters to help them found a congregation here. He visited Bunkei in his clinic. The two of them enjoyed their reunion talking about their memories in Paris and sharing their mission and vision. That was the time Fuku Okamura was introduced to and healed by Msgr. Ghika.

　All the projects Bunkei launched were going well even though suffering from an occasional deficit. He then passionately embarked on establishing the hospital of his dream. He was busy with searching for the location, raising funds, planning and organizing for the new hospital in addition to his usual work where he was already overloaded. Finally the continuous overwork caught up with him. He had a series of heart attacks. The construction of the hospital had begun, but he never saw it finished. On 17 August 1939 aged 47, Fr. and Dr. Bunkei Totsuka completed his life devoted to the sick and poor. Sakuramachi Hospital was completed only two months after his death. Though Fr. Totsuka could not see the hospital of his dream accomplished, his vision and work was succeeded by Mother Fuku Okamura and her congregation. After tuberculosis was brought under control in Japan, Sakuramachi Hospital, the great legacy of Bunkei Totsuka, grew into a community hospital and has actively served its neighborhood to this day.

　Fr. Totsuka had always sought to create a devoted community for the vulnerable who practice love. Christ himself lived beyond the border of gender, race, occupation and the cleric. His idea about such community exceeded the paradigm of his time. It still gives inspiration to our congregation.