To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, students from the Jesuit-run Universities of Manchester Catholic Chaplaincy have folded one thousand origami cranes in a powerful gesture of peace and solidarity.

The tradition, known as senbazuru, is rooted in Japanese culture and symbolises the hope that peace might triumph over violence. It is inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who, after surviving the Hiroshima bombing, began folding cranes in the belief that creating 1,000 would help her recover from radiation-induced leukemia. Today, senbazuru has become a global act of remembrance and resistance to war.

Installed in time for Pentecost, the cranes now hang in the Holy Name Church in Manchester as a striking visual prayer for peace. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit, whose fruits, Paul reminds us, are “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).

The students hope their offering will be a prayerful call to action, that hearts may be softened, and conflicts resolved. In particular, they are holding in prayer those suffering in Ukraine and Gaza, and all victims of violence around the world.

A vibrant chaplaincy community behind the cranes

The crane project is just one expression of the life and spirit of the Catholic Chaplaincy serving Manchester’s university students. Run by the Jesuits, the chaplaincy is a place of welcome, faith, and friendship for students from all over the world, supporting them as they navigate the challenges of university life.

The video below offers a glimpse into the chaplaincy’s mission, capturing moments from a recent countryside walk where students reflected on faith, nature, and community. Among those featured is Dion, a recent convert to Catholicism, who speaks about what the chaplaincy has meant to him:

“Having the opportunity to get into the quiet of nature, as well as with a group of people interested in learning about you and sharing their own experiences, that’s a very important aspect for all the people.

“The chaplaincy has been a very important place for me, especially as someone who has just become a Catholic just a year ago because it provides a place to meet other Catholics, especially people around my age, not just within the religious setting.

“So it’s been very helpful to me growing in my faith, in the religious aspect, learning more about the faith but also just growing as a person, as a young adult who is currently working on developing in their life.”

The video is a testament to the chaplaincy’s vision: not just a spiritual home, but a community helping students grow in faith, friendship, and peace.