Pax Christi Study Tour and Pilgrimage to Hiroshima
Since 2016, the Oleander Initiative has implemented nearly a dozen programs in Hiroshima for over 100 participants from 12 countries. Through our participants, we explored the complexity of peace through many facets – forgiveness, justice, trauma recovery, resilience and many more. Whether from the Middle East, Africa, Northern Ireland, South Korea or the US, our participants pass on their own unique interpretations of what they believe are the “lessons of Hiroshima.” Often times the Oleander Staff learns as much from the participants as they do from us.
Last month we explored peace through a facet we never encountered before – spirituality.
In March 2024, 11 participants from Pax Christi, an international Catholic peace movement organization with the mission to “to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity” attended a six day study tour and pilgrimage to Hiroshima, Japan. Their visit to the city of the peace included “core” Oleander program elements such as:
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Tours of Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum
Meetings and discussion sessions with local Hiroshima Peace NGOs
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Lectures from Hiroshima academics and facilitated reflection sessions
Although, we at the Oleander Initiative have experienced the same sites before, the Pax Christi participants viewed them through the themes of faith, spirituality, rebirth and resurrection – all new concepts for us at the Oleander Initiative.
What made this program really special were the unique program elements specially tailored to the interests of Pax Christi including:
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A hibakusha (atomic bomb victim) testimonial by Koko Kondo, the daughter of Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto, who was prominently featured in John Hersey’s landmark book Hiroshima.
A site visit to Nagatsuka Monastery where participants learned about the role of the Jesuit priests residing there during the days after August 6, 1945.
Perhaps the highlight of this program was a meeting and discussion session between the Pax Christi participants, hibakusha and members of the Noboricho Church. The Pax Christi offered an apology to the victims of the atomic bombing and vowed to “pray, speak out and act together as good partners in the journey towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons.”
This high profile event captured the attention of Japanese media and was featured in
NHK, Japan’s most prominent news channel and the Mainichi newspaper
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You can view the NHK news story (in Japanese) HERE
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Most importantly, following the event, both parties engaged in profound discussion and dialogue that forged connections that will last long after the program is over.
All of us at the Oleander Initiative are honored to bring the lessons of Hiroshima to such a committed group of peacebuilders and would like to thank Pax Christi for revealing a side of Hiroshima peace culture that we had not contemplated before.
We forward to the impact the Pax Christi participants will make on their communities!