The following press release was published by the Archdiocese of Seattle on July 18. Read more about Pax Christi USA’s resources to commemorate the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings at this page.
A delegation from the Archdioceses of Santa Fe and Seattle is embarking on a transformative Pilgrimage of Peace to Tokyo, Akita, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, Japan, from July 31 to August 12, 2023. The delegation comprises Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, and Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle, along with representatives from various organizations and archdiocesan offices dedicated to nuclear disarmament and social justice.
As part of this pilgrimage, the delegation will be praying this novena for peace starting on August 1 and ending on August 9, the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945. All are invited to join them in praying the novena.
The Pilgrimage of Peace is driven by a compelling vision and mission statement, which is rooted in a world free from nuclear weapons due to their inherent threat to lasting peace. By advocating for universal disarmament and fostering global cooperation, the delegation aims to eliminate nuclear weapons and cultivate an environment where peace can flourish unimpeded.
Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe stated, “During this Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan, I hope to encourage conversation about universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament and to walk together toward a new future of peace, a new promised land of peace, a new culture of peace and nonviolence where we all might learn to live in peace as sisters and brothers on this beautiful planet, our common home. I hope one day, we will stop building these weapons, disarm our state and our world, and embark on a new future without the fear and terror of the nuclear threat.”
The mission of the Archdioceses of Santa Fe and Seattle’s Pilgrimage of Peace is to establish a strong ecclesial and personal relationship with the bishops of Japan.
“God calls us to build a global community where the whole human family can flourish,” said Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle. “Let us keep educating ourselves, praying for peace, and appealing for verifiable nuclear disarmament, which reflects our Catholic teachings and is the path for the common good.”
Guided by the Holy Spirit and under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Nagasaki, the delegation embarks on this sacred mission, standing in solidarity with the bishops of Japan to build a lasting legacy of peace for present and future generations.
As part of this pilgrimage, the delegation will be praying this novena for peace starting on August 1 and ending on August 9, the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945. All are invited to join them in praying the novena.
For media inquiries and further information, please visit the pilgrimage website or contact media relations directly:
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe: Leslie Radigan, lradigan@asfnm.org, 505-831-8180
- Archdiocese of Seattle: Helen McClenahan, helen.mcclenahan@seattlearch.org, 206-375-5679
Archbisops Wester and Etienne, please refuse to pay Federal taxes which fund all wars and nuclear weapons, and encourage the faithful to do the same. On your journey, tell the story of Archbishop Hunthausen who announced his refusal to pay federal taxes because he did not want to pay for the Auschwitz of Puget Sound. Unfortunately, Auschwitz is all around us.