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…

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Day 4 – Today we pray for forgiveness, especially for those times when we have opted for violence instead of reconciliation. May we follow God’s way of encounter and dialogue for the resolution of all conflicts. As stated by Archbishop Wester of Santa Fe, “All our conversations should be respectful, rooted in prayer, based in…

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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…

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Day 3 – Today we pray for the people impacted by nuclear weapons research, development, testing, and use, here in the United States and around the world. May we understand the real human, financial, and environmental costs of developing, maintaining, and expanding nuclear arsenals, even as many continue to suffer from a lack of basic…

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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…

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Day 2: Today we pray for solidarity with all Indigenous peoples impacted by uranium mining, atomic bomb testing, and the long-term storage of nuclear waste on their sacred lands. May we work toward real solutions to rectify these many wrongs done to our siblings.

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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…

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Day 1 – Today we pray for the determination never again to use atomic energy as weapons of war. May we heed Pope Francis’ call for “for prayer and commitment to a world completely free of nuclear weapons.”

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