Pilgrimage of Peace
Day 8 – Digest
Day 8 Rain fell as Typhoon Khanun rolled into town. We started our day by continuing our discussions with the Archbishops of Nagasaki and the Bishop of Hiroshima about the partnership between our four dioceses. The talks were cordial, and we made quick progress as all parties agreed on the work’s major pillars. We attended…
Read MoreDay 7 – Digest
Day 7 The archbishops stayed with Archbishop Nakamura at his residence, which is part of the Catholic Center. This morning, they celebrated Mass, and we joined them later for a formal meeting about the idea of joining our four dioceses in an alliance or partnership. The discussions were fruitful and will continue tomorrow. After, we…
Read MoreDay 6 – Digest
Day 6 We started our day with a private Mass in the basement Chapel of the World Peace Memorial Cathedral in Hiroshima. We then embarked on a 5 1/2-hour bus ride to Nagasaki with several Japanese arch/bishops, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Japan, Archbishop Leo Boccardi. The countryside was captivating and sprinkled with rain –…
Read MoreDay 5 – Digest
Day 5 Clapping, chanting, and singing opened our day at an Interfaith Prayer Ceremony at the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound led by the Hiroshima Prefecture Federation of Religions. Our archbishops joined with other religious leaders to remember the souls of those who died 78 years ago on the anniversary of dropping the atomic bomb on…
Read MoreDay 4 – Digest
Day 4 Another remarkable and engaging day in Hiroshima. The archbishops met with a local Japanese reporter to share the story behind the Pilgrimage of Peace. This was followed by a meeting with Noriko Hiruma from the Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace and Tomoki Yanagawa from the Jesuit Social Center. Tomoki originally read…
Read MoreDay 3 – Digest
Day 3 We witnessed the sea of commuters rushing through the Tokyo train station this morning as we boarded the four-hour bullet train to Hiroshima. Speeding through the countryside, we saw numerous cities, coastal communities, gorgeous mountains, a few Christian churches, and rural areas before arriving in Hiroshima. Most Rev. Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama, Bishop of…
Read MoreDay 2 – Digest
Day 2 – Digest Today began with a train ride to Kamakura, a 12th-century city on the coast. The first stop was the Zen Engaku-ji Temple, founded in 1282 by Mugaku Sogen to honor those killed in wars against Mongolia. The quiet and peacefulness of the temple grounds, meditation rooms, and garden were palpable. After…
Read MoreDay 1- Digest
Day 1 – Digest Our first full day was spent getting acclimated to the time change, the weather, the frenetic energy of the city, and the nuances of the Japanese train system. We also enjoyed the exquisite Japanese cuisine comprised of many small, beautifully displayed dishes. After lunch, Archbishop Wester and Archbishop Etienne met with…
Read MoreDay 0 – Digest
Day 0 – The Pilgrimage Begins Our delegations met for the first time in the LAX airport as we boarded the flight to Japan. After 12 hours we welcomed the sights of lush greenery and Japanese boats as we flew into Tokyo. We had no issues with customs, transfers or meeting up with our leader…
Read MoreJuly – Pilgrimage Preparation
Nuclear Disarmament
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