Fr. Thomas A. Barry – Life and Legacy in Japan

Spring is finally here!

I hope wherever you are the weather is warm sunshine and cool, gentle breezes. There are many ways to celebrate the beginning of spring, but one of the most beautiful is the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival. Running from March 20th to April 16th, this month long festival celebrates nature’s renewal and Japanese culture. If you can’t travel to Japan to see this gorgeous natural phenomenon, it’s also celebrated in Washington, D.C. (https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/).

Trevor and I were hoping to share an exhibition of Cherry Blossom photographs from our collection… but the Mission Archives does not have any! (If any Maryknollers out there have cherry blossom festival photos from Mission in Japan, we would love copies.)

Instead, I want to discuss the life and legacy of Fr. Thomas A. Barry, a Maryknoll priest who was missioned in Japan.

Fr. Thomas A. Barry – The Early Years

Thomas Anthony Barry was born on November 4, 1909 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was the son of Thomas F. and Mary (Hurley) Barry, and the youngest of five siblings. Shortly after their son’s birth, the family was struck by tragedy. The elder Thomas Barry died of influenza on January 6, 1910. Records suggest Mrs. Barry never remarried, instead laboring to ensure the health and wellbeing of her children.

Young Thomas Barry began his education at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School when he was only 4 years old. The Notre Dame Sisters running the school agreed to enroll him a year early so that his mother could work during the day. The Sisters’ generosity allowed the family to stay afloat financially and afford a strong Catholic education for Thomas. Now known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy, the school continues to serve the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Before graduation from grammar school, Thomas applied to study at the Venard Apostolic School in Clark’s Green, Pennsylvania. He was inspired by his brother William, who was studying to be a Redemptorist priest. Thomas knew at 13 years old (!) that he wanted to be a Maryknoll missionary. Unfortunately, the Junior Seminary couldn’t accept him because he was too young, but encouraged him to apply again next year. Disappointed but undeterred, he spent a year at Boston College High School and was accepted to the Venard in 1924.

From the Venard Junior Seminary, Fr. Barry continued his studies at the Maryknoll Seminary. He was ordained on June 16, 1937 and assigned to mission in Japan. By the end of July 1937, he found himself on a ship bound for his new home.

Mission in Japan – There and Back Again

Fr. Barry was assigned and reassigned several times during his life in Japan. The following is a rough timeline of his journey reconstructed from news articles and his own memories.

Aug 1937 – 1938 : Fushimi and Hatsunecho

One of the first Maryknollers in Japan, Fr. Barry was selected to participate in this exciting new venture. Being a missioner requires flexibility and a willingness to go where you are needed. This may explain why he did not stay in either city for very long, and later settled in Sanjo.

1938 – 1941 : Sanjo

Mission in Sanjo required “hard work and ceaseless effort” from Fr. Barry. Earning the trust of his new community proved more difficult than originally anticipated. To make matters worse, an accidental fire burned down the church and rectory. Local authorities accused him of arson, and he was monitored by detectives until Japan and the U.S. entered WWII.

1942 – 1946 : Internment and Repatriation to the United States

Like many Maryknollers, Fr. Barry was interned during World War II. He was rescued and returned to the States by the famous MS Gripsholm. Following his repatriation, he served as an assistant at St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit.

1946 – 1951 : Tsu City

(see Tsu City, Japan below)

1952 – 1954 : Ginza District, Tokyo

This unique church was located on the seventh floor of a department store in the heart of Toyko’s famous shopping district. Hopefully none of the parishioners were afraid of heights!

1955 – 1956 : Yamashina

Our records don’t say much about his time in Yamashina. Thankfully, we do have a photograph from his time here. His fan and the crowd’s apparel suggest it’s a warm day there. Everyone seems to be cheerful despite the heat. This photo is my favorite from our collection because it’s a rare candid image of him. Fr. Barry typically wears a more serious expression, especially in his formal portraits, but here he seems to radiate joy.

1956 – 1971 : Tsu City

(see Tsu City, Japan below)

Fr. Barry, Sr. Sabina, and Hirayama Sensei stand in front of Tsu Catholic Church with their latest Confirmation Group, 1948-1949

Tsu Castle by 663highland, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32037958

Fr. Barry’s major contribution to the area was the establishment of Tsu Catholic Nursery School. When Fr. Barry was assigned to Tsu City, plots of land were still available for sale. The city was growing, and Fr. Barry saw an opportunity to support the Catholic Church and its families. He successfully negotiated financial assistance from city officials to help build the school and Maryknoll was able to purchase the land. Records suggest the nursery school was originally located “close to the Tsu Shin-machi Station and not far from the St. Joseph’s School”. At some point, it was relocated to the same block as the Tsu Catholic Church.

Tsu Catholic Nursery School has served several generations of students since its opening in the late 1960’s. The school even has their own website: https://tsucathl.jp/. It includes images of their current students and faculty along with a copy of their busy daily schedule.

Fr. Barry speaks to two parishioners in front of Tsu Catholic Church

Fr. Barry overseeing an ordination ceremony in Kyoto, Japan

Fr. Barry surrounded by parishioners in Sakamoto, Kyoto, Japan