Dear Friends,
Approximately 20 people gathered at the Main Gate of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. It was a most appropriate place for a celebration of The Resurrection as the Bangor Trident base represents the largest operational concentration of nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal, a horrific concentration of the dark forces of empire that threaten humanity with extinction.
The Eucharist was led by Fr. Bill "Bix" Bichsel of the Tacoma Catholic Worker, and the attendees, mostly from Tacoma, including some Jesuit Volunteers.
The Navy personnel at the gate were respectful and "friendly" according to one participant; they greeted the participants upon arrival and engaged in conversation afterwards.
Reflecting on the Easter Eucharist, Bix said that he felt it was was "very prayerful and meaningful," and that it also felt like the participants were "reaching across the [blue] line [which indicates the transition onto Federal property] with the power of the resurrection."
Here are a few photos from the gathering (Thanks to Mira Leslie for sharing them).
Bix & Rodney Herold at Ground Zero Center |