Tokyo, Japan - March 2023 - A retreat was held in Tokyo on March 31, in which more than 100 people participated, including members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) and participants in the "Rosary on Zoom" initiative. The latter was devised during the pandemic by Fr. Angel Yamanouchi, Spiritual Animator of ADMA in Japan, and involves people of various nationalities praying the Rosary in five languages: Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and English. The retreat focused on the Gospel character of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who threw off his cloak and approached Jesus and was healed, becoming his disciple. Thus, each participant was invited to write down what he or she must now throw away in order to follow Jesus in his or her own life. In the afternoon meditation session, there was the testimony of a Brazilian gentleman who told how he went from a life frustrated by gambling addiction to a life of service. The groups' synodal sharing helped participants face their challenges and live their lives with renewed hope. After the retreat, many people asked to join ADMA.