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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — ¹/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shenanigans Before Mass
Five-year-old Kyoko-chan uses Anthony as a human coat rack

Anthony received his First Communion at Mass today, along with his friend Joe. They'd been meeting with Fr. Graham McDonnell (an American priest who has been in Kyoto for more than 50 years) on Saturdays for the past few months, and he thought they were ready. He suggested that they serve Mass, so that with their street clothes covered by their cassock, they'd not have to bother about getting dressing up. 🙂

Anthony has been serving Mass on and off for about two years, while Joe's been doing it for two and a half years.

Joe's little sister Kyoko (seen joshing around above), who turns five years old tomorrow, has been serving for several months. Other kids who normally serve more often also showed up, and Fr. McDonnell's not the kind to turn anyone away, so there turned out to be a total seven acolytes.

Also seen above is Gabriel, an extremely good-natured young man who always takes the younger kids under his wing.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pre-Mass Instruction

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Dress Rehearsal

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Prior to Entrance

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/4.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Assisting Father

Even though he's now taller and can see over the altar with ease, the shot above looks similar to this shot two years ago where he could just barely see over, because this time I was sitting when I took the shot, so the angle makes him look shorter.

Fr. McDonnell specifically asked me to take some pictures. I suppose it's hard for anyone to believe that I'm ever reticent to use the camera, but that's not what Mass is for, so when I do photograph during Mass, I do so with reserve.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony Receives His First Communion
while Kyoko and her brother look on

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
moments later,
Joseph Receives His First Communion

After Mass, in the basement, we thought to take an impromptu group photo, and immediately the two boys started doing some silly Power Ranger poses and whatnot. It was funny and all, but I suggested that perhaps they could try a somewhat more pious pose. Everyone was still mid-laugh (and Joseph still had half of a funny face) when I got this shot....

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos

The tallest boy is Gabriel's brother, the pair being half of a quartet of siblings who are all kind, good natured young men of such a high caliber that it's my aspiration for Anthony to turn out like them. If you can't be a kind and considerate person, no other successes in life really matter.

Joe's parents let him pick where he wanted to go to celebrate after Mass, and much to their consternation, he picked McDonald's. But it was his special day, so McDonald's it was. We tagged along.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Not Our Average Sunday Brunch

The McDonald's near Kawaramachi and Sanjo Streets is three stories tall, but was still so crowded that we couldn't all sit together. It was the first time any of us had been in a McDonald's in a very long time, which made it a treat for the kids, and gastronomical distress for the adults. It'd been so long for me that I actually forgot to get the Happy Meal (with its all-important accompanying toy) for Anthony. But Anthony did get ice cream later on. My order of 14 ice-cream cones was somewhat of a shock to the kid behind the register, but with the help of Gabriel and his brothers, all the cones reached their intended recipients waiting up on the third floor.

We had already promised Anthony an ice-cream treat as celebration, and tagging along to Joe's lunch didn't count. Fumie wasn't feeling well this evening, so Anthony and I headed out for dinner and a big parfait. It was so big that Anthony couldn't even finish it, but being the loving Daddy that I am, I made the sacrifice to help him with it.