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August 9, 2026
Commemoration held marking 81st anniversary of Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings
REGIONAL
Story and photo by Kathleen Harrington
Sister of St. Joseph Jane Morrisey addresses those gathered for a commemoration of the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, Thursday, Aug. 6 at Mont Marie in Holyoke.
HOLYOKE — Close to 150 people packed the community room at Mont Marie Senior Residence Thursday, Aug. 6, to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The somber ceremony was hosted by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and co-sponsored by Greater Springfield Campaign Non-Violence, Pax Christi, JustFaith Ministries, the Agape Community, Pioneer Valley Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Western Massachusetts Back from the Brink hub.
Four people representing the interfaith community presented a reading of “Original Child Bomb, A Radio Play,” written by Trappist monk Thomas Merton and published in 1961. The readers took on the roles of reporter, commentator, the bomb, and hope. It recounts the making of the bomb, the political scene surrounding its creation, and the decision to employ the bombs on Japan to end World War II.
Historians estimate that the atomic bombs dropped on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945 killed more than 80,000 people instantly in Hiroshima and more than 40,000 in Nagasaki, with 650-thousand survivors dying from burns and radiation exposure.
Deacon Bill Toller said this is the 13th year the partners have taken time to commemorate the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“We also honored Sister Jane Morrissey, one of the pillars of our community when it comes to social justice,” he said. “We consider her our foundress and spiritual guide and the person who inspires us to continue to do this work,” Toller added, crediting the Sister of St. Joseph, with the teaching non-violence in Springfield schools.
The tribute was a surprise to Sister Morrissey who thanked all those who turned out for the ceremony. Encouraging all with a message of hope she said, “We do what we can and we pray for what we not yet can and the world is a better place.”
As the afternoon drew to a close, members of the New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett chanted prayers calling for peace.