Retreat House September 11 ceremony seeks peace not vengeance
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Peace and remembrance were the themes of the 10th anniversary of a Sept. 11 memorial Holy Hour at San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch.
During the ceremony, Redemptorist Father John McGowan, acknowledged that remembering is a big part of the Catholic faith. Addressing those present he stressed that Jesus knew the importance of remembering when he said “Do this in memory of me” at the Last Supper.
“We’re very good at forgetting,” he noted.
Still, Father McGowan, added, on Sept. 12, 2001, Americans changed and became more peaceful.
“Strangers were kind to strangers, people were courteous, churches were filled, people started praying more, patriotism was on the rise, American flags flew. A French newspaper said, ‘Today we are all Americans.’ He continued, “All of us are destined to eternal life, happiness and peace. Evil acts are not meant to fill us with anger, revenge, hatred, or bigotry.”
We are called, said Father McGowan, to pray for our enemies and live in the present. “Now is the only time I can say, ‘I love you’, forgive me, thank you, ‘well done’. Now is the only time I can pray. Each now is a gift.”
The Redemptorist priest reflected that the shrine at San Alfonso Retreat House always reminded him of the World Trade Center towers. The two tall brick walls of the shrine are like the Twin Towers, and even though the Twin Towers didn’t have a Crucifix in between them like the shrine’s brick walls do, Father McGowan said Jesus was with everyone in those towers as they went down: “He was with the firemen. He was with every person in every seat on all four planes. The crucified Christ was there. His name is Emmanuel, ‘God with us’. So many people asked where God was that day.”
The Holy Hour, which was organized by Redemptorist Father Thomas Siconolfi, ended with the strains of a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace and God Bless America.
“I think Father Thomas chose the right approach,” said Luciana Silva of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Long Branch, who is originally from Brazil. “The 10th anniversary is bigger than the others, especially for families. Sometimes we forget easy. I’m glad to be here representing the Brazilian community,” referring to the beginning of the ceremony when all the countries that lost citizens in the terrorist attacks were remembered, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
“The Gospel was about not seeking vengeance but peace with all those around us no matter what walk of life they are,” said Brandon Berryhill, a worker at San Alfonso Retreat House.
“It kept (the terrorist attacks) in proper perspective, opened the ceremony up to the community,” said Deacon Jim Cattanea. “He did it in a tasteful way that respected everybody; no anger, no acrimony, just peace.”
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Peace and remembrance were the themes of the 10th anniversary of a Sept. 11 memorial Holy Hour at San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch.
During the ceremony, Redemptorist Father John McGowan, acknowledged that remembering is a big part of the Catholic faith. Addressing those present he stressed that Jesus knew the importance of remembering when he said “Do this in memory of me” at the Last Supper.
“We’re very good at forgetting,” he noted.
Still, Father McGowan, added, on Sept. 12, 2001, Americans changed and became more peaceful.
“Strangers were kind to strangers, people were courteous, churches were filled, people started praying more, patriotism was on the rise, American flags flew. A French newspaper said, ‘Today we are all Americans.’ He continued, “All of us are destined to eternal life, happiness and peace. Evil acts are not meant to fill us with anger, revenge, hatred, or bigotry.”
We are called, said Father McGowan, to pray for our enemies and live in the present. “Now is the only time I can say, ‘I love you’, forgive me, thank you, ‘well done’. Now is the only time I can pray. Each now is a gift.”
The Redemptorist priest reflected that the shrine at San Alfonso Retreat House always reminded him of the World Trade Center towers. The two tall brick walls of the shrine are like the Twin Towers, and even though the Twin Towers didn’t have a Crucifix in between them like the shrine’s brick walls do, Father McGowan said Jesus was with everyone in those towers as they went down: “He was with the firemen. He was with every person in every seat on all four planes. The crucified Christ was there. His name is Emmanuel, ‘God with us’. So many people asked where God was that day.”
The Holy Hour, which was organized by Redemptorist Father Thomas Siconolfi, ended with the strains of a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace and God Bless America.
“I think Father Thomas chose the right approach,” said Luciana Silva of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Long Branch, who is originally from Brazil. “The 10th anniversary is bigger than the others, especially for families. Sometimes we forget easy. I’m glad to be here representing the Brazilian community,” referring to the beginning of the ceremony when all the countries that lost citizens in the terrorist attacks were remembered, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
“The Gospel was about not seeking vengeance but peace with all those around us no matter what walk of life they are,” said Brandon Berryhill, a worker at San Alfonso Retreat House.
“It kept (the terrorist attacks) in proper perspective, opened the ceremony up to the community,” said Deacon Jim Cattanea. “He did it in a tasteful way that respected everybody; no anger, no acrimony, just peace.”
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