Gallery
Welcome to the photo gallery of Brother Zeno Zebrowski. It is impossible to show you all of the pictures in our possession. We have divided the photo gallery into a few segments for better navigation.
Notice: Brother Zeno did survive the blast of atomic bomb in Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945. He spent his entire life in Japan, working very hard helping the orphans, poor and needy people there as well as outside of Japan.
Brother Zeno Zebrowski arrived to Japan as a Franciscan missionary together with Fr Maksymilian Kolbe on 24.04.1930. They landed in Nagasaki.
Later on they acquired a piece of land in the Hongochi valley in the upper course of the Nakayama river and established a friary in the hills above Nagasaki. Brother Zeno was looking after the construction among other things.
Brother Zeno was always a very happy man. With his sincere smile, humorous attitude he was able to bring back a smile on the faces of the poor, homeless and destitute people.He was a friend to everyone: to homeless, beggars, criminals, black marketers, prostitutes, drug pushers etc. The people who came in contact with Brother Zeno immediately sensed his deep love and compassion for the poor.
Part one He was travelling throughout Japan helping orphans poor families and needy. In very special ways he was helping street children looking after them throughout the entire country. He loved the children and was loved by them in return. He was called by them “Santa Claus”
Part two Brother Zeno Zebrowski’s works of charity made him a household name in Japan from the time he arrived there. Children flocked to him wherever he went. Often he was begging for the needy on the streets. When his begging was finished, he went to the poor quarters of the city to distribute all he has received.
For his charitable work for the poor of Japan he received wide spread publicity in Japanese newspapers and world-wide publications. In July, 1969 Brother Zeno was presented with a special medal of honor known as The Fourth Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese Government.
In 1971 Brother Zeno Zebrowski visited his native land Poland, after an absence of 41 years. He was very happy to meet his family and old friends. When asked by the family to spend the rest of his life amongst them in Poland, he said -“ Sorry I can’t. They are waiting for me in Japan. I left unfinished business over there. I must return”.
On November 20 th, 1979 , a monument was unveiled to Brother Zeno in Fujireyen at the base of famous Fujirein.
The huge monument was a joint venture of a Polish architect s Adolf Ryszka and Japanese artist Mr Togashi Hajime.
On May 1 st ,1983 a commemorative plaque, honouring Brother Zeno was unveiled in Czarnia, Poland, in his home Parish.
On November 19 th , 1998, a monument was unveiled to Brother Zeno in the same Parish. The monument portrays carvings of Brother Zeno with Polish and Japanese children.
Brother Zeno was very busy through his entire life, working very hard for the needy of Japan. His last four years he had to spent in the hospital. When Pope, John Paul II visited Japan on 23 February 1981 Brother Zeno was brought to Tokyo’s Cathedral for a very emotional meeting with the Holy Father. The event was widely reported by the Japanese media.
Brother Zeno Zebrowski died quietly on 24.04.1982, after 52 years of missionary work in Japan. He was buried on 26.04.1982 in a catholic cemetery in Tokyo – Fuchu. The solemn funeral Mass was conducted by Apostolic Nuncio for Japan Arcb. Mario Pio Gaspari and Archbishop of Tokyo Shiraynagi with more then 50 priests concelebrating. A big crowd of lay people, religious sisters and government officials in attendance.
On March 16 th, 2000 in Czarnia, Brother Zeno’s home Parish the local bishop, Stanisław Stefanek blessed three church bells. In recognition of Brother Zeno’s missionary work in Japan, one of them was named after him ”ZENO’’
On October 27 th 2002, the same bishop officially opened and blessed a Museum dedicated to Brother Zeno Zebrowski. The Japanese Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Hideaki Ueda with his wife Emiko and many Government officials, local clergy and crowds of Parishioners were in attendance.
Polish Niepokalanow, began with Fr. Maximilian Kolbe and Brother Zeno Zebrowski placing a statue of Mary Immaculate on the property belonging to Prince Drucki – Lubecki. Maximilian Kolbe nominated Brother Zeno to be in charge of the construction of the Franciscan monastery. Due to this statue of the Immaculate this place has developed and became the biggest Franciscan monastery in the world as well as a great shrine visited by hundreds of pilgrims every day.
Though brother Zenon died on April 24th 1982, he remains forever in memory of generations. Every year, not only in Japan, but in Poland as well, there are different kinds of celebrations in memory of the great Polish Franciscan missionary to Japan. During his life time as well as after his death brother Zenon bridged the two great nations- Poland and Japan.
