After 11 years the wounds are healed but the scars are visible, the anger has evaporated but the pain revives sometimes. The time and clock kept moving since 9/11 but after 364 days the time and clock brings back the memory line. The rebuilding of World Trade Center is underway and it will be completed by 2016. We hope and pray that the “Freedom Towers” will remain stand tall. Let’s pray that the peace be with eveyone in the world.

Image: from Google

Fr. Alex Joseph was an assistant parish priest at St. Peter’s Church, 22 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10007 from May 2003 to May 2012. St. Peter’s Church is very close to ground zero in New York City. He spent his lot of time around ground zero and after 9 years this is the first anniversary of 9/11 he was not at or around ground zero. But is mind was and he has written his thoughts sitting in Pune, India.

Image from google

My Holy Ground

After seven years accompanying people in their pain during my priestly ministry at St. Peter’s parish, yesterday on the eleventh anniversary of the September 11 I could see myself avoid viewing the pictures of the horrible event. Instead, I wanted to see the pictures of the rebuilding and the artists new look of the World Trade Center site when it would be completed in the future. However, my memories were drawn to the painful events and people visiting the Ground Zero year after year where their beloved ones vanished in thin air or maimed for life. Slowly I was drawn deeper into the mystery of finding God in unlikely places while reading an article by Father William A. Barry, S.J., Where Do We Experience God? I felt it may be easier for me to feel the presence of God in lovely places or circumstances. But can I sense the presence of the Divine at a place of horror? I found an affirmative answer to my question in our recent history. It is through the presence of compassion people showed the face of God. Two of the vivid examples are Saint Maximilian Kolbe at Auschwitz and Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta. It may be possible to say that many felt the presence of God in the compassion of believers, non-believers, volunteers and public service personnel who were at the site and the forgiveness shown by those who lost their beloved ones. As I contemplate the sad event I see the face of God in Ground Zero. For me that is the ‘Holy Ground’. For seven years when I sat for rest after my evening walk at Zuccotti Park my eyes involuntarily gazed in silence at the empty space where once the twin towers stood. Was I speechless remembering that horrible day or my soul rested on the mystery that continues to shine amidst pain and helplessness? Unworthy I am, may I be open to the Divine to bring the mystery into reality by acts of compassion and justice.

May the souls departed rest in peace and the mercy of God fill the souls of those who are still mourning and recovering.

Fr. Alex Joseph

National Vocation Service Center, Pune, India

Barry, W. B. (2007). Where do we experience God? Human Development, 28, 5-9.