70301-0021 - Christian Ordination Service

Three Japanese priests being ordained at a Catholic church in Nagasaki. This postcard was published by Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris (Society of Foreign Missions of Paris) in Paris, a Roman Catholic missionary organization. The society was established between 1658 and 1663 and consists of lay people and secular priests.

Its activities in Japan started when Father Forcade entered Okinawa on April 28, 1844. He was not allowed to spread Christianity and his movements were severely limited. He and other French missionaries were eventually forced to leave Okinawa in 1848.

Finally, on November 24, 1855, a convention was signed between France and Japan which allowed French missionaries to enter Japan. It would take years before they were actually able to spread Christianity.