53rd Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic BombingAugust 8, 2025, NagasakiMost Reverend Paul D. Etienne, DD, STL Dear friends, brothers and sisters, esteemed guests,We come together on sacred ground. Tomorrow marks eighty years since that dreadful moment – 11:02 am on August 9, 1945 – when a single Read more…
I was given the last speaking spot of our symposium today. Below is the presentation I provided: August 6, 2025, Elizabeth University School of Music, Hiroshima, Japan Good afternoon, friends. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, our world still yearns for peace. Read more…
A brief reflection on our Advent journey for this day. In the Gospel today a centurion appeals to Jesus to heal his servant who is dying. Jesus offers to visit the dying person, but the centurion responds, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only Read more…
Merry Christmas everyone! Please know of my prayers for all of you, your loved ones and friends. I pray this Christmas give each and all of us the grace to recognize and receive Christ into our lives and bring him and his peace into our world. May your Christmas Day Read more…
Yesterday, the synod delegates formed into our third of four small groups. Today marks the halfway point of our gathering and work. In October of 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. Days later the world watched nervously as the Cuban Missile Crisis unfolded between the two nuclear Read more…
On the 78th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, we continued discussions with Bishop Shirahama of the Diocese of Hiroshima, Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, working out the final details of our partnership. We concluded our two hour morning session to Read more…
How I wish I had the luxury of just one hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to reflect upon all I saw and heard yesterday. From visiting with Setsuko Thurlow, one of the Hibakusha from that August 6, 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, to touring the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Read more…
I was reminded of something this week I already knew. Then, it was reinforced again in today’s Gospel. On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:“Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And Read more…
This Friday is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. It is also the date Pope Francis will consecrate Russian and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pope Francis has invited every bishop in the world along with their priests and people of God to join him Read more…