On the Saturday before the 24th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, scouts from Troop 13, one of the oldest and largest scout troops in Brooklyn, gathered under scout leaders to place the 110 American flags in the garden around our church, along 4th Avenue, around the Crucifix and down 82nd Street beyond the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The flags were placed as a memorial for those who lost their lives, and for their families, as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Thank you – Troop 13 members: Brandon, Christian, Dillon, Felix, Francesco, Gregory, John and Scout Master John McCluskey and Patrick and Connor who assembled the flags!
On Thursday, 9/11, St. Anselm Parish and Bay Ridge Catholic came together to remember all those lost, with a Mass at 8:30am, while the church remained open for private prayer from 7:30am to 8pm. At the Mass, celebrated by Fr. Kevin, he spoke about the twin tower attacks, the attack on the Pentagon and Flight 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. He spoke about the Gospel that was read at Mass, the same Gospel (Luke 6:36-42), which would have been heard by those who attended Mass on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a Gospel with a message of forgiveness. That while anger was a normal reaction to the attacks, the Gospel reminds us that as followers of Jesus we should forgive.
On Saturday, September 13th, at the 5pm Mass, the Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, with the members of Cub Scout Pack 313, Scout Troop 18G and Scout Troop 13, leading the procession up the main aisle, Fr. Kevin again spoke during the Mass about the attack and reminded the congregation that as Catholics we recognize that through faith, the cross is a symbol of victory, not defeat. Following the Mass, the scouts, with Fr. Kevin came down the main aisle and went out onto 4th Avenue to the Crucifix at the corner. There Father Kevin spoke about loss and forgiveness, the scouts lead the congregation in the Pledge of Allegiance and the cantor lead the group is singing “God Bless America”.
At the Sunday morning 8am and 11am Masses the focus of the homilies of Fr. Ray and Fr. Kevin carried on the theme of sacrifice, grief and forgiveness as both priests lead the congregation outside for prayer following the Masses.
We thank Fr. Kevin, Fr. Ray, the cantors, and most especially the scouts of Cub Pack 313, Troop 18G and Troop 13 for leading us in this sad, but moving, memorial for all those lost as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
The Saint Anselm Publicity Committee