Church prepares to mark Patriot Day, Sept. 11

Washington D.C., Sep 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Masses, rallies and a dedication of a memorial are among the events planned for dioceses and parishes in the United States and at North American College in Rome to mark Patriot Day, Sept. 11.

The annual event, which was established in 2002, commemorates those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Some celebrations will also incorporate honoring the victims into the dioceses' annual Blue Masses, which honor all police, fire and emergency medical technicians.

After the Blue Mass in the Archdiocese of Miami, a monument will be dedicated to Franciscan Fr. Mychal Judge, the New York Fire Department chaplain who died administering last rites to attack victims at the World Trade Center.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, will hold a memorial event at Sacred Heart Church in Albuquerque, which had incorporated two 20-foot steel beams from the World Trade Center into the Memorial Bell Tower.

Across the Atlantic, students and faculty at Rome's North American College will participate in a Patriot Day Mass at the U.S. military cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.

For eyewitness accounts from priests who were at the terrorist sites in 2001, refer to “We Were There … Catholic Priests and How They Responded in Their Own Words,” at http://www.usccb.org/vocations/wewerethere.htm