Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As I arrived in Hiroshima, I carried the memory of Nagasaki within me.

At Nagasaki’s ground zero, I was struck by the silence, witnessing the remnants of Urakami Cathedral—sacred objects shattered by fire.

Hiroshima, however, confronted me differently.

The Genbaku Dome, once the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, stands as a haunting reminder beside the Motoyasu River. The bomb exploded above it, claiming every life inside, yet the structure remained while the surroundings vanished. The city debated tearing it down but ultimately chose to leave this scar visible.

Before the Dome, I felt a profound difference. Unlike Nagasaki, which drew me into silence, Hiroshima demanded my attention.

This Dome is not just a monument; it’s a testimony to destruction itself. It compels us to remember the depths of human capability.

Some wounds should remain visible.

We often wish to hide our scars, to move on. Yet Hiroshima chose to build life around its scar, surrounding the Dome with the Peace Memorial Park—a space filled with beauty, children, and families.

The contrast is striking.

The Dome reminds us: “Remember what humanity can do.” The garden says: “Remember what can grow afterward.”

These truths coexist.

Hiroshima’s lesson resonates deeply: healing does not mean erasing the past, but rather learning to live with it. It’s a call to cultivate peace amidst what cannot be undone.

After nearly forty years of visit, I can still envision the broken Dome beside the park.

Hiroshima’s message remains clear: while we cannot change history, we can choose what grows alongside it.

My sister and brother, what are you choosing to grow alongside what you cannot change?

With prayerful wishes and blessings,
Fr. William Rosario
Pastor