75th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

To mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, St Margaret’s parish in Lochgilphead held a peace vigil at which Fr Ronald Campbell prayed for a nuclear-free world.

Fr Ronald read from the statement issued by the Scottish Bishops’ Conference and the Bishops of England & Wales, which echoes Pope Francis in condemning the immorality of possession & use of nuclear weapons, and the amount spent on such weapons which could be used for the good of humanity.

Socially distanced parishioners shared prayers for the victims of the August 1945 bombings, and for divestment from nuclear weapons.

A Japanese tree was blessed and will become part of a peace garden within the grounds of St Margaret’s, a parish with an active Justice and Peace group that attends vigils at Faslane.

Parishioner Marian Pallister, chair of Pax Christi Scotland, said after the vigil, ‘We pray that all nations will ratify the nuclear ban treaty.’