In a reflection on the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., begins:
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…
Podcast available of Bishop O’Connell’s reflection in English and in español.
Diocese observes 20th anniversary of 9-11
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.
Click HERE for links and a partial list of parish observances in the Diocese of Trenton for the twentieth anniversary of September 11.
