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Just one day after the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney reflected on the day in his homily at the most recent youth Mass and prayer gathering in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany Sept. 12. He asked the teenagers — who were not born yet on the day of the attacks — what are some of the lessons they have learned about this tragic day in America’s history. One young person responded by answering “the importance of unity,” which was shown in abundance in the immediate days and weeks after the attacks.

The 9/11 Memorial Foundation of Chatham hosted a ceremony to honor the members of its community who died in the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and local clergy participated in the event that began with a walking procession at the Chatham Train Station where commuters, including those on the fateful day in 2001, take the train to travel to their jobs in New York City.

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Franciscans serving at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson led a memorial service for Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, a FDNY chaplain and former pastor of St. Joseph Church in West Milford, at his grave in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery here. He was the first recorded casualty of 9/11.

Over the last few weeks, there have been many devastating images in Afghanistan as the government in the Middle Eastern country collapsed and was taken over by the Taliban leaving those in the country in a perilous situation. The situation hits close to home — thousands of Afghan refugees have landed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst near Trenton — leaving all they know behind. To assist in this humanitarian effort, Catholic Charities agencies in New Jersey are collaborating with the Joint Base to meet the basic needs of temporary housing, food, medical care, and resettlement assistance.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Kut and his crew waited at the controls of their C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft to take off from the airport in Kabul on a flight to safety and freedom for a planeload of passengers desperate to flee Afghanistan in the final days of the 20-year war that gripped the country. However, before takeoff, the crew radioed the control center with an astounding announcement: there were more than 800 people on board — far more than its usual capacity of up to 300 persons.

At some point in college, I believe as a freshman or sophomore, I remember being intrigued by hearing in a philosophy class that a particular philosopher (I do not recall his name) began his academic career as a “philologist.”

Amid the heated reaction from national leaders against the “heartbeat” law in Texas that bans abortions starting at six weeks, Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said it is “tragic that political leaders, including President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), have responded with statements that ignore our nation’s sacred interest to protect the life and health of both mothers and their unborn children, instead responding with radical pledges to mobilize the full force of the federal government to block all efforts to protect the life of the child in the womb.”

In the 20 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, people of the Diocese still remember Franciscan Father Mychal Judge — the first listed causality of the attacks at the World Trade Center and now known as the “Saint of 9/11” — for using his considerable gifts as an “everyday saint.”

As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 is marked, the many photographic images that came from the worst terrorist attacks in the history of the United States will never be forgotten. They tell the visual story of that harrowing day documenting a moment in history that will be shared for generations to come. Rich Gigli, a retired photographer, who often freelances for The Beacon and is a parishioner of St. Bonaventure Parish in Paterson, recalled that fateful Tuesday morning when he was serving as photo editor for the Bergen Record. Throughout the day, he was reviewing countless photos sent by the Record staff photographers for the newspaper’s next issue. Many of the photos showed the massive destruction of the towers, the pain and tears of the witnesses and the tragic loss of many lives.

Paul Acquaviva, Donald Adams, Margaret Benson, John Bocchi, Martin Boryczewski, Liam Callahan Jean De Palma, Karen Seymour Dietrich, Gregg Froehner, Timothy Paul Gilbert, John Grazioso, Tim Grazioso, Gayle Greene, Anthony Infante Jr., Father Mychal Judge, OFM, Timothy Kelly, Andrew La Corte Paul Laszczynski, Thomas Linehan Jr., Hilda Marcin, James Martello, William Martin, Philip Mastrandrea Jr., Robert Mattson, Patrick McGuire, Edward Murphy, Mike O’Brien, Michael Pescherine, James Romito, Matthew Selitto, Francis Skidmore Jr., Paul Skrzypek, Michael Sorresse, Francis Trombino, Salvatore Zisa

It could be as simple as sitting on a wooden bench that faces a colorful row of flowers planted in the ground or an inviting path of paving stones that leads gently to a tall wooden crucifix. Or it could be as dramatic as the sight of a twisted piece of steel taken from the “Ground Zero” disaster site at the World Trade Center or the quiet gravesite of a fallen hero of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. No matter the physical or natural environment, family and friends are grieving the unimaginable and can find comfort, peace, and healing in the calming presence of the several 9/11 memorials and prayer gardens throughout the Diocese.

As Hurricane Ida swept through the state, many in the Diocese were affected due to the heavy rainfall, which caused massive flooding in many areas of Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties. Recording-breaking rain on Wednesday, Sept. 1 in the area left many homeless or temporarily homeless as the water flooded homes. To support those affected by Hurricane Ida, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said, “While we know that, as disciples, we must always be ready to share in the mystery of the Lord’s Cross, the experience of natural disasters can truly test our faith.

All around the Paterson Diocese, clergy, religious, and laity will join together in churches and at local shrines, and monuments on Saturday, Sept. 11 or Sunday, Sept. 12, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They will pray for the victims of the attacks and their families, while also praying for the gift of God’s everlasting peace on earth.

Lily Marino, 17, a senior at Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta, does not have any first-hand memories of experience the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks because she was not born yet. She heard stories from her parents and her uncle, a news reporter on that fateful day, and saw his photos of the unimaginable horror.

For those who are old enough to look back and remember all that has taken place during the past 20 years, how much do you remember from your personal life, the life of your family, and events that have taken place in our communities, in our country, and throughout the world? Obviously, some remember more than others do and there are unforgettable moments for each and all of us. The events, tragedy, and heroism that took place 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, is certainly one of those unforgettable moments. Almost every person who was old enough to realize what was happening could remember where they were and what they were doing the moment they heard, “a plane hit the World Trade Center” or “a plane hit one of the Twin Towers.” Others heard the words, “Turn on the TV, a plane just hit …”

We all remember where we were at the exact moment the first hijacked plane was flown into the first tower of the World Trade Center and, in what seemed like a matter of seconds, we saw another hijacked airliner hit the second tower.

When the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney was a priest on his first assignment. He was serving at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in Jamaica, Queens. The parish community he was serving at the time lost two parishioners — one who worked in the Twin Towers and a Port Authority Police Officer.

An estimated $1.5 million major renovation project is now under way at Morris Catholic High School in Denville to develop its “Crusader Commons” space by making improvements to the school’s chapel, main entrance, library, and courtyard. Centered on Christ, the renovations will “provide new and improved space for the Morris Catholic community,” said Father Peter Clarke, the school’s president.

Four Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth professed their perpetual vows before Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney during a Mass that he celebrated on Aug. 28 in St. Joseph Chapel in the religious community’s convent in Parsippany. The four sisters all come from Indonesia and have completed seven years of religious formation.

The Diocese of Paterson has joined with 15 dioceses along the eastern seaboard in forming catechists, parents and volunteers through the Southeast Catechist Conference 2021. Themed “Say the Word,” the conference is virtual and available online for free through Sept. 15. It is presented in partnership with the Atlanta province diocese of Atlanta, Ga., Charleston, S.C., Savan­nah, Ga., and Raleigh, N.C. There are more than 90 English and Spanish language video presentations and already participants from 88 countries have signed up. The sessions are meant to equip faith formators and ministry leaders with the tools and knowledge to be better witnesses of the faith. The Diocese will host a live portion of this conference for N.J. dioceses from Oct. 21 to 24 with more information to come on this event.