IHS Bethlehem Church
IHS Bethlehem Church is an honest, nonprofit church founded in the Catholic tradition. Its name, its works and its whole life begin with one light: the Star of Bethlehem, which led the wise men to the Child born at Christmas.
The Star of Bethlehem Comes First
“We have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him” (Matthew 2:2). The star was seen, it was followed, and it led to a gift. Our church tries to live the same three steps: to look up, to walk toward Christ, and to give freely what we have. Everything on these pages — our corporate information, our writings, our observation records and our works — is gathered under that one star.
Read: The Star of Bethlehem · Read: Christmas
Our Work: KIBOJO
Our principal work is KIBOJO (希望王女, “Princess of Hope”), the story of Princess Santaria, told within the world of OKURU — Star of Mary — ChristmasFantasy (御来). We create works and publish them in the media to speak against war, to stand for peace, and to take hope as their theme. No money arises from our work in any form; we accept no compensation of any kind; and the corporation does not hold, and will never hold, a corporate bank account. Our team is made up entirely of volunteers and individuals working of their own free will, and its main activity is creation and production.
Creation is hope. Hope is the monastic life. Therefore, creation is the monastic life.
Read: KIBOJO and the Catholic Faith
Corporate Information
Available in Latina · Italiano · Français · English · 日本語. The English text is authoritative; other languages are translations for reference.
- Corporate Profile — registration details, our work, purpose and history
- Articles & Bylaws — overview of our governing documents
- Articles of Incorporation — full text as filed
- Bylaws — all 93 articles
- Why a “.com” Address? — why a nonprofit church uses okuruya.com
- Privacy Policy
Who We Are
Faith and the Sky
- The Stars and Scripture
- The Liturgical Calendar and the Sky
- A History of Faith and Science
- Why Astronomy?
- Observatory — a small side activity
- Our Observation Record Policy
The Infirmary — Infirmarium
A series on the care of the sick in the monastic tradition.
- Infirmary — Infirmarium
- The Sick Before All Things
- The Infirmary as a Building
- The Infirmarian’s Day
- The Herb Garden and Infusions
- Care of the Dying and Burial
- Consolation through the Arts
- Why the Monks Withdrew from Medicine
- Physicians and the Infirmarian Today
Activity Reports
Our activity reports are published as posts in the category IHS Bethlehem Church.
From Our Former Home Page
The text below is the content of our former home page at betlemme.org, kept here in full.
Our Purpose
This corporation is a Religious Nonprofit Organization registered under the laws of the State of California, founded in the Catholic tradition of faith, worship, and service. Its purpose is to serve God and humanity through prayer, the sacraments, priestly ministry, and works of mercy, promoting the unity of faith and reason. The corporation conducts worship, pastoral care, education, charity, and healing, encourages art and media as expressions of faith, and operates worldwide through churches and missions to advance faith, peace, and service.
What We Do
IHS Bethlehem Church is an honest, nonprofit church. Our main work is KIBOJO (希望王女, “Princess of Hope”), a body of church works made as an expression of faith.
No money, no compensation. No money arises from our work in any form. We accept no payment, fee, reward, or compensation of any kind, and the corporation does not hold, and will never hold, a corporate bank account. Our works are made and published without charge.
Peace and hope. We create works and publish them in the media to speak against war, to stand for peace, and to take hope as their theme.
Made by volunteers. Our production team is made up entirely of volunteers and of individuals who take part of their own free will; the corporation is an organization of such voluntary work, and its main activity is creation and production. For us, art is the monastic life itself.
Corporate Profile — also in Latina · Italiano · Français…
Sacred Music & Church Art. Sacred music rooted in Gregorian chant, and church art such as icons and devotional images, made as expressions of faith.
The Sanctuary. A private chapel in Saitama, Japan, where old sacred objects that have lost their keepers are received, preserved, and held in trust.
Faith and Reason
Our Articles of Incorporation call us to promote the unity of faith and reason and to encourage art and media as expressions of faith. Our works grow from that calling. Alongside them we keep a small, honest record of the night sky and share it freely; it is a side activity, not the centre of our work.
The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.
Psalm 18:2 (Douay-Rheims)
Observatory at a Glance
Latest Activity
- We Have Rebuilt Our WebsiteWe have rebuilt betlemme.org as the home base of the corporation.
- Two Objects Registered in Our ObservatoryWe have registered RV Phoenicis and NGC 104 in our observatory (COSMOS).
- We Have Begun Observing with the T30 Remote Telescope
We have begun imaging with iTelescope.Net’s T30 (Siding Spring Observatory, 0.51 m aperture).
Observation Images
Why Does a Church Watch the Stars?
Our name comes from the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Magi from the East. Scripture describes the heavens as declaring the glory of God. Carefully observing the order of the stars and recording what we see honestly, without embellishment, is something we carry on as one expression of our faith.
From the Observatory
- Orion NebulaM 42 · HIIRA 05h 35m 16.8s / Dec −05° 23′ 15″
- RV PhoenicisV* RV Phe · RR*RA 23h 28m 31.5s / Dec −47° 27′ 13″
- 47 TucanaeNGC 104 · GlCRA 00h 24m 05.4s / Dec −72° 04′ 53″
Source: COSMOS public API (CC BY 4.0 (data), MIT (software) — COSMOS)
Tonight’s Sky and the Church Calendar
- Liturgical Calendar
- Ordinary Time
- Easter
- March 28, 2027 (in 133 days)
- Christmas
- in 40 days
Moon age is an approximation based on the mean lunar cycle. The liturgical calendar shown follows the Western Church and is a general guide; reckoning differs among churches.
The Stars and Scripture
Bible passages that look up to the heavens and the stars, with notes from astronomy.
The Liturgical Calendar and the Sky
The date of Easter is set by the Moon. How the Church’s calendar is tied to the motions of the sky.
A History of Faith and Science
From Copernicus to Father Lemaître, with both the light and the shadows.
Status
Status as of November 2026. The organization is in its start-up stage. KIBOJO is in production by our volunteer team. A chant choir and the first works of church art are in preparation. Other areas of our mission will be added as the corporation grows.
Our Observation Record Policy
A five-part format that keeps facts and impressions separate.
About Us
Basic information about IHS Bethlehem Church.
