ASF News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The community is invited to join Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, 5:15 p.m. Aug. 9, for a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.

Archbishop Wester’s homily will be centered on his pastoral letter, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament,” released Jan. 11, 2022. Following his homily, Archbishop Wester will offer a healing prayer for those harmed by the production and use of nuclear weapons. This includes victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings in Japan; Trinity Test Downwinders; uranium and nuclear weapons workers in New Mexico and beyond; and any future victims in the accelerating new nuclear arms race.

Mass will be followed by a panel discussion with prominent interfaith leaders on the need for nuclear disarmament and at 6:15 p.m. a Q&A session. Confirmed interfaith leaders joining Archbishop Wester include Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe; Mrs. Samia Assed of the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque; The Rev. Holly Beaumont of Interfaith Worker Justice; Roshi Joan Halifax of the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe; and Former Governor of Cochiti Pueblo, Regis Pecos.

In the pastoral letter, Archbishop Wester reflects upon his trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Catholic social teaching on nuclear weapons, the history of the development and production of nuclear weapons in New Mexico, and Jesus’ example of nonviolence. He encourages all to read the pastoral letter and use the reflection questions and suggestions for action. The complete pastoral letter can be accessed here, and the summary here. Panel bios can be found here.

Livestream the event Aug. 9, 2022:

• 5:15 p.m. Mass and healing ceremony youtu.be/M4SnixeGwyE
• 6:15 p.m. Interfaith dialogue youtu.be/U88tJwq7yNsm

Masks and social distancing are encouraged. For more information, contact the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Social Justice and Respect Life 505.831.8205.