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It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Fr. John Motoki Shozawa, who left us on July 17th, 2024. 

Fr. John dedicated his life to serving God, the Anglican Church, and the Japanese and Japanese diasporic community around the world with deep faith, gentle leadership, and compassionate pastoral care. 

Born in 1935, John first graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo, which he followed with studies at the Anglican Theological College at UBC (now Vancouver School of Theology). He was ordained to the diaconate in the Diocese of New Westminster in 1964, and then to the priesthood in 1965. Following that, Fr. John embarked on a remarkable journey of bilingual ministry that spanned decades and crossed international borders, most often serving Japanese Canadians and Japanese Americans, but beginning at Holy Cross Mission, Vancouver. 

In 1978, Fr. John was called to ministry in California, first to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles followed by the Episcopal Diocese of California, San Francisco where he served at Christ Episcopal Church Sei Ko Kai for 14 years before returning to Holy Cross Japanese Canadian Church, Vancouver in 1995.  He later served the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican Church of Japan) in university chaplaincies located in West Sussex, England and Osaka, Japan. 

Fr. John’s strong calling to the priesthood led him to move out of retirement and return once again to ministry at Holy Cross Japanese -Canadian Church, Vancouver, in 2006. Altogether, he ministered to the community of Holy Cross for over 25 years and the larger Anglican community for 50 years. 

A deeply compassionate community advocate and leader, patient father and grandfather with a great sense of humor, he is deeply loved and missed by his family and friends. John is survived by his wife Lynne, daughter Katherine and family, and relatives in Canada, the U.S., and Japan. His legacy of love and service will continue to inspire all who knew him. 

A memorial service will be held for Fr. John on Saturday, August 17th at 1pm. Location forthcoming. 

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him+.