Catholic Charities Events

WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Aug. 9-22, 2019 | Volume 80, Number 19 Hope for a nuclear-free world CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY | With the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, the bishops of Japan are renewing calls and prayers to build peace by abolishing nuclear weapons worldwide and pro- moting integral human development. They also expressed hope that Pope Francis’ visit in No- vember and his expected calls for peace will strengthen people’s desire and boost efforts to bring about a nuclear weapon-free world. The first atomic bomb used in warfare was dropped by the United States on Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945, killing more than 100,000 people. On Aug. 9 another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing about 74,000 people. Japan surrendered Aug. 15. St. John Paul II visited both cities during a February 1981 trip and appealed for peace, calling for the elimina- tion of nuclear weapons around the world. “Let us work hard for peace through justice; let us make a solemn decision now that war no longer be tolerated and seen as a means to resolve disagreements; let us promise with our counterparts that we will tirelessly strive for dis- armament and the abolition of all nuclear arms, let us replace violence and hatred with trust and care,” he said, addressing world leaders. Throughout that speech at the Hiroshima Peace Me- morial Park, St. John Paul repeated that “to remember the past is to work for the future,” which inspired Japan’s bishops to observe Ten Days of Prayer for Peace from August 6 to 15 every year. Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, presi- dent of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, said in a message for the days of prayer that guaranteeing peace and security in the world required “not only to eliminate the nuclear threat by abolishing nuclear weapons, but at the same time to make all people richer in all aspects” through integral human development. He said the bishops were looking forward to Pope Fran- U.S. Cardinal John F. O’Hara, then the bishop of Buffalo, New cis bringing “a new peace message to the world” during York, and Bishop Michael J. Ready of Columbus, Ohio, offici- his expected visit, the second ever to Japan by a pope ated at the cornerstone laying ceremony in 1946 of a temporary and nearly 39 years after St. John Paul stepped foot there. church, which was completed and dedicated by Cardinal Nor- Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue said he hoped the pope man Gilroy of Sydney later that year. The Urakami Cathedral would convey Japanese dreams that “Nagasaki be the last was rebuilt in 1959 and it is one of the largest Catholic churches atomic bombing site” in history, according to an interview in Japan. in mid-July with japan-forward.com, the online English A gilded wooden cross that survived the bombing of the ca- site of the Sankei Shimbun daily newspaper. thedral was recently returned to the city. Taue also said he hoped the visit would draw greater Tanya Maus, director of the Peace Resource Center at Wilm- attention to the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki ington College in Ohio, gave Archbishop Takami the cross dur- Region, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in ing a special ceremony Aug. 7. 2018. The sites were where Christians secretly lived out The three-foot-tall cross had been given to 2nd Lt. Walter their faith during the fierce prohibition of Christianity Hooke, a U.S. Marine from Yonkers, New York, who had been between the 17th and 19th centuries. When Japan was re- stationed in Nagasaki from October 1945 to February 1946, ac- opened to the West in 1853, Christian missionaries were cording to the Japanese daily, the Asahi Shimbun. astonished to find about 30,000 Christians, mainly in A devout Catholic, he befriended the late-Archbishop Paul Nagasaki, who had kept the faith and passed it on in their Aijiro Yamaguchi of Nagasaki, who gave him the cross that had families from generation to generation. been salvaged from the rubble. When the second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Hooke, who died in 2010 at the age of 97, kept the cross in his the “cradle of Christianity” in Japan, some 8,000 Catholics family’s living room, but later donated it to the Peace Resource died. The Nagasaki Diocese at the time had about 60,000 Center at the Quaker college in 1982. The center then decided to Catholics, nearly one-fourth of all the Catholics in the return the cross to the cathedral. wartime Japanese Empire. “I am delighted the cross is alive,” said the 73-year-old Arch- “The pilot of the U.S. plane that dropped the atomic bishop Takami, who was growing in his mother’s womb when bomb on Nagasaki was actually a Catholic,” Archbishop the bomb fell. At top, the Atomic Bomb Dome is seen in Hiroshima, Japan, Takami said in an interview with japan-forward.com. “Atomic bomb victims will die, but the cross will remain as a Aug. 6, 2019. (KYODO VIA REUTERS) Above, Pope Francis The city’s cathedral was located about 540 yards from living witness to what happened in Nagasaki,” he told the news- examines photos of the aftermath of the 1945 atomic ground zero. A number of worshipers were inside praying paper. bombing of Japan as he greets members of the Hiroshima the morning of Aug. 9, 1945; they were all killed and the “The cross tells how brutal humans can be, and at the same and Nagasaki Youth Peace Messengers at his weekly general cathedral was destroyed. time, it gives us hope,” he said. n audience June 19, 2019. (VATICAN MEDIA) WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Aug. 9-22, 2019 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Ground broken on Queen of Angels cemetery GLENDA MEEKINS Bishop John of the Florida Catholic staff Noonan WINTER PARK | “I am so breaks ground on Queen thrilled. I can’t wait for this Catho- of Angels lic cemetery to be here,” exclaimed Cemetery, in Judi Jakiel, parishioner at St. Marga- Winter Park, ret Mary Parish in Winter Park. She Aug. 4. From was at San Pedro Spiritual Develop- left: Kevin ment Center for the groundbreak- Casey, Roger ing of Queen of Angels Cemetery, Barnes, David located next door. “I can’t imagine Branson, more wonderful, peaceful grounds Fred Haddad, for the rest of eternity.” Bishop Bishop John Noonan broke Noonan, ground on Queen of Angels, Aug. 4. Commissioner The 48-acre site is home to the first Bob Dallari, diocesan cemetery for lay persons Father in the Diocese of Orlando. Jakiel John Bluett and her husband, were already pre- and Father planning when they heard about Richard Trout. the new cemetery and were eager to (MARJORIE get the details. DURANTE | FC) At the groundbreaking, bishop noted every person receives a spe- acres at Queen of Angels will con- FYI cial gift of Baptism into the life of tain more than 1,300 pre-installed Christ. “Our faith is a reminder burial vaults, a cremation garden Other Catholic cemeteries in that, even though our passing away of more than 800 cremation burial the Diocese of Orlando causes affliction, we go forth with lots, including an assortment of There are three active parish cemeter- God. I pray that Queen of Angels columbaria niches, and areas set ies in the diocese. The diocesan director becomes that place, not of sorrow, aside for family memorials. In addi- of cemeteries provides guidance and but of peace and hope … We share tion to the outdoor burial options, support for each of these parish man- in Christ’s death, but we also share the cemetery will include a colum- aged cemetery operations. in His resurrection.” barium building of more than 600 • All Souls in Sanford, founded in Many of those gathered came for indoor, glass front niches in an air- 1890 different reasons. Tony and Maria conditioned, comfortable setting. • St. Joseph’s in Palm Bay, which Bonilla are coordinators for the be- The new cemetery is part of the began in 1914 reavement ministry at Good Shep- bishop’s vision for ecclesiastical • St. Matthew Cemetery and Colum- herd Parish in Orlando. “People properties. Following the priests’ barium, established in 2006 always ask us about what Catholic cemetery, also located at San Pe- cemeteries are nearby. We came to dro, this was the logical next step. learn and help those at our parish,” Branson explained, beginning of the resurrection – that our bod- said Tony. with Queen of Angels made sense ies and souls will be reunited. We For Margaret Moran, an elderly as it is on land the diocese already have great respect for the body. It parishioner from Sts. Peter and Paul held. “Our mission includes going isn’t just this husk we throw away David Branson answers parishioners’ questions about new Queen of Parish, having a cemetery close to to the Northern Deanery for a sec- and discard. It is part of who we are Angels Cemetery in Winter Park. (GLENDA MEEKINS) home has special meaning. “I think ond cemetery, which is in the early and just as the Lord rose, we rise. So it’s wonderful to have a Catholic stages of progress,” he said. Site pos- taking care of our dead is a beauti- over those buried there. There is an love,” the bishop said. “As we come cemetery here. I hope someday I sibilities are still under exploration. ful thing. environment that is contemplative to this day to recognize our duty to can rest there.

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