Magoshiro Matsuoka was born in
Urakami (now part of the city of
Nagasaki). Matsuoka's family practiced
Christianity in secret, facing constant persecution and were exiled from their home in 1868 during the
fourth Christian purge, escaping to
Tsuwano, Shimane until 1873. Named for his grandfather who died in exile in Tsuwano, Matsuoka entered the Catholic school at
Ōura in 1901 and was
ordained to the
priesthood on February 21, 1918. Matsuoka first served as pastor of the Magome Church on
Iojima Island, and was appointed to the
Apostolic prefecture of Niigata and the
Apostolic prefecture of Nagoya in 1941, where he served concurrently as Apostolic Administrator. In 1945, Matsuoka was elevated to
prefect of both. Matsuoka resigned as prefect of Niigata in 1953 to concentrate on the construction of a new reinforced concrete cathedral (
St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral) and the Kogami School in Nagoya. Upon Nagoya's elevation to
Diocese, Matsuoka received his
episcopal consecration on June 3, 1962 at the brand new St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral from Apostolic Internuncio in Japan, Archbishop
Domenico Enrici, with Archbishop
Paul Aijirô Yamaguchi and Bishop
Paul Yoshigoro Taguchi, as
co-consecrators. Matsuoka participated in all four sessions of the
Second Vatican Council. Following his retirement from Nagoya in June 1969, he served as
Titular Bishop of
Belli and Bishop Emeritus of Nagoya. == References ==