Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., remembers that day 20 years ago

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 20 years ago. I was scheduled to concelebrate Mass later that day so I had a bit more personal time that morning to read the paper, have another cup of coffee and watch the end of New York’s “Today” show before heading downstairs to my office to begin work.

It looked beautiful on TV in New York, too, that September 11, 2001, until the broadcast was interrupted shortly after 9 a.m. with live scenes of smoke billowing from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  A plane had apparently crashed into the building.  No one seemed sure what had happened until, moments later, a second plane hit the South Tower.  It all seemed surreal, too much of a coincidence to be accidental.  By 9:30, the scene shifted to President Bush in Florida, announcing “a national tragedy,” confirming “an apparent terrorist attack on our country.”

Continue reading Bishop O'Connell's reflection HERE. 
 

                          

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Remembrance of the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil on Sept. 11, 2001, has drawn communities together in prayer throughout the Diocese of Trenton for nearly two decades. This year as the nation marks 20 years since 9/11, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., invites the faithful and all people of good will to join in an online prayer service on the diocesan YouTube channel.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Sept. 11, participants may visit YouTube.com/TrentonDiocese to pray with the service, which will be recorded at the Chancery chapel. The service will include prayer excerpts from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Pope Benedict XVI and a reflection by Bishop O’Connell.


We invite and encourage you to actively participate from where you are, reading along and responding as part of the family of faith. 

FOR ENGLISH, CLICK HERE.     

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Le invitamos y animamos a participar activamente desde donde se encuentre, a leer y responder como parte de la familia de la fe. 

PARA ESPAÑOL, OPRIMA AQUÍ. 

Here is a partial list of parishes in the Diocese of Trenton with special services for this 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001:

• *St. James, Red Bank, Mass of Remembrance, Justice and Peace, 8 a.m.
   
• *St. David the King, Princeton  Junction, 4 p.m. Mass followed by prayers at the memorial in the hall
   
• *St. Mary, Middletown, 9 a.m. Memorial Mass
   
• *Nativity, Fair Haven, People will be remembered in prayer at the 8 a.m. Mass and 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass.
   
• St. Joseph, Toms River, Sept. 10 Memorial service at 7 p.m.
   
• *St. Leo the Great, Lincroft, 10 a.m. Memorial Mass
   
• St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, 8:46 a.m. to commemorate time first plane hit tower
   
• St. Michael, West end, 8 a.m. Mass of Remembrance; tolling of bells at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37, 10:03, times of the 4 attacks
   
• Corpus Christi, Willingboro, 9 a.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic Day of Adoration
   
• St. Benedict, Holmdel, 9 a.m. Mass
   
• St. Catharine, Holmdel, prayer service that is available on parish website
   
• *St. Thomas More, Manalapan, Mass of Remembrance 8:30 a.m.
   
• St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford, the names of all who died will be read at all weekend Masses during the Prayers of the Faithful
   
• St. Dominic, Brick, 5:30 p.m. Vigil with sacred music

* Parish communities where faithful were lost on September 11, 2001.