Thirty five community members participated in a prayer service hosted by Pax Christi greater Bangor. Several interfaith leaders as well as a number of peace & justice advocates gathered to share prayers, scripture readings, reflections, music and commentary on the need to relinquish our country’s reliance on weapons of war and to prohibit the use of nuclear arms across the globe. On this 77th anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the horrors of those tragedies were remembered. Excerpts from Archbishop John C. Wester’s Pastoral Letter, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace” and statements by Pope Francis were shared. Pope Francis is unequivocal in his statement, “I reaffirm that the use of nuclear weapons, as well as their mere possession, is immoral.” The Vatican was the first nation state to enter into the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2017. Many in attendance requested that this gathering be offered annually. People remained afterward to connect with others and share conversation.
