Remembrance of 9-11
Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.
Dearly Beloved,
An important event occurs this coming Saturday, the 20th anniversary of that fateful day, September 11, 2001. For most of us, it is a day that has been etched in our memories as long as we shall live, as we saw our nation come under attack by forces that can only be described as evil. We, as a people, lost over 3000 souls on that horrible day but Almighty God lost not one! Saturday is, for us, a day to remember, reflect, and contemplate.
It is also a day for us to pray for the repose of the souls of our fellow citizens lost. It is a day for us to pray in thanksgiving to Almighty God for the courageous among us who sacrifice their safety for us, police officers, firefighters, and medical first responders. Let us pray for grace and strength for the families of those killed that day as they continue to grieve for their beloved. Let us pray for that grace-filled Providence of our heavenly Father to guide our country both now and into the future. And, finally, let us pray that we may put on the whole armor of God and always stand firm for Him against the face of Evil, wherever we may find it!
There can be no better place for these prayers to be said than in the church. All Saints will be open at 8:30 a.m. this coming Saturday to allow us all the opportunity to gather in sacred space in the presence of our Lord.
We will toll the bells at the church at the four most significant moments of that day:
- 8:46 a.m., Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
- 9:03 a.m., Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
- 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
- 10:03 a.m., Flight 93 crashes into the ground in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
For those that cannot be in the church on Saturday, we will live-stream from the church beginning at 8:30 a.m. so that all may participate on this solemn day. You can access the live-stream for our Website, our Facebook Page, and our YouTube Channel.
There will be no set prayer service that morning. It just will be us keeping vigil together in the Presence of our Lord, much as we do at the Watch in the Garden on Maundy Thursday night. It is meant to be for us a time to remember, reflect, contemplate, and, of course, to pray.
Blessings,
Fr. Erich
