We Pray For Peace NOW and ALWAYS!
By time you read this some of you will be getting ready to participate in the retreat later on Sunday afternoon, at 2:00 p.m., and/or on Monday or Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in our worship space. As I told the congregations at Masses last weekend, in order that Lent might be rich and fruitful, we need to do something different, something stimulating and invigorating for ourselves and others. We must avoid using as an excuse or an explanation: “This is what I have always done for Lent.” OK, do something that is tested by repetition, but do something that is new. “Renew” yourself this Lent!
Perhaps, by time you read this article, the war in Ukraine will have ended and peace will endure. We must hope for a quick end to a war in which Russia’s leader has already threatened use of nuclear weapons. Using such weapons will mean the long-term destruction of the very land and people he is trying to take over.
I pray you all understand that the very existence of nuclear weapons is an affront to humanity. There is no way that the use of nuclear weapons will be a tactically advantageous action. The size and destructive capabilities, the indiscriminate damage and death they cause, and the long-lasting effects of such weapons make them impractical and immoral. The fact that Mr. Putin increased the alert status of his nuclear arsenal makes me think that he has lost touch with reality. Such posturing worries me, whether it is a Russian president, or any one of the leaders of the other 8 nations who possess such destructive power, including the U.S.
In January 2022, Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico wrote a pastoral letter to the people of his Archdiocese. Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament, is a testament to the power of the Gospel and its message of peace and love for one’s enemies. The archbishop describes history, current status, and hoped for change in the realm of nuclear armaments. He has a voice with which to speak powerfully as New Mexico is home to two atomic research and nuclear weapons production facilities. It is also home to the largest storage area for nuclear warheads at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque. If New Mexico were one of the 9 nuclear nations, it would be the third largest in the world for nuclear weapons power!
The amount of money, resources, and personnel invested in nuclear weapons production and maintenance is astounding. Despite New Mexico’s large role in this lucrative market, it is the 49th poorest state in the U.S. But, the county where the largest atomic facility is located is the 4th richest in the country. It is a testament of injustice. We pray for peace NOW and ALWAYS! God forgives! Let us repent!
Peace, Fr. Andy
