By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

The celebration of Masses, prayer services and coming together in community settings were ways in which faithful from around the Diocese solemnly commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

To see photo gallerly from Interreligious Service in Middletown, click here.

In Middletown, where a reported 37 residents had died in the World Trade Center attacks – a number of whom were members of the town’s St. Mary Parish – were remembered by their pastor, Father Jeffrey Kegley, and fellow parishioners during the noon Mass Sept. 11. Among those in the congregation were Craig Weber, the chief of police of Middletown; Ken and Janice Tietjen , whose 31-year-old son, Kenneth F. Tietjen, a police officer for the Port Authority  of New York, died while assisting people trapped in the Twin Towers, and Bill Lang, whose 30-year-old son Brendan, also died in the terrorist attacks.

“We will never forget those who died,” said Father Kegley. “We are a family here at St. Mary’s, and a tragedy such as 9-11 is something you never get over, even after 15 years.”

During the Mass, Father Kegley dedicated a stained glass window depicting St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police officers, in memory of Kenneth Tietjen. After the Mass, the congregation gathered outside for a prayer service around a memorial dedicated to the victims. The memorial contains rubble from one of the fallen towers.

Community Prays

Later that day, Father Kegley, along with Father Richard Osborn, parochial vicar, and the parish choir, participated in an interreligious, candlelight remembrance ceremony that was open to the Middletown community at-large and held at the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens located outside the Middletown Arts Center. The event drew elected officials including Congressman Christopher H. Smith, Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger and other faith leaders including Rabbi Shmaya Galperin of the Chabad Jewish Center, Holmdel. Music was provided by the Concordia Youth Chorale, St. Mary Choir, whose members sang the national anthem, and bagpiper Michael Hannigan.

Beginning his remarks with the well-known statement, “Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing” on Sept. 11, 2001, Smith paid tribute to the thousands of people who lost their lives in the attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, their families and the “courageous first responders.”  Yet, “No one remembers the shock, horror and numbing sorrow more than the families and close friends of the victims.”

“For 15 years, the families have had to endure their loss and a broken heart. For many, their faith in God has helped them survive and overcome. Yet their grief persists,” he said.

Smith noted how several 9-11 families had gathered in Congress this year “as they did so frequently over the years to demand accountability and justice.” He explained that the families were present for the passage of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows Americans to sue foreign countries connected to the attacks.

“Meeting old friends of 15 years after the House debate, each was eager to share updates and smart phone videos of their kids, now mostly grown up,” he said. “But there were tears also, an obvious pain.”

‘Light of Christ’ Prevails

On the other side of the Diocese, in Burlington County, the 6 p.m. Mass on Sept. 11 in St. Mary  of the Lakes Church, Medford, drew more than 500 faithful gathered for what Father Daniel Swift, pastor, called a “Mass Mob,” which was an iteration of “flash mob.”

The Mass opened with a Color Guard procession by four members of the Medford Cub Scout Pack and the parish contemporary music group singing “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” by country singer Alan Jackson. Another piece that was sung at the conclusion of the Mass was “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen.

Father Swift opened his homily by reading several verses from St. John’s Gospel, emphasizing, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Recounting his own memories of that day, he said, “Although the weather was crystal clear and the sky was blue, what an incredibly dark day it was. But the Light of Christ shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it,” he said.

He went on to say how in the days that followed, the Light of Christ manifested through the many ways people throughout the nation came together in prayer and as community. “Overtime, charitable organizations received billions of dollars in donations, world leaders stood at the side of President George Bush and the U.S. led war on terrorism began and companies allowed their employees to kneel in prayer.”

After 15 years, Father Swift said that “Americans will take the time they need to pay respect to the victims of 9-11 and their families.”

“We might feel the sadness of that day again, but tonight, we thank God because the Light of Christ shined in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome it,” Father Swift said. “God Bless America.”