September 13

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Defining the various generations is an important sociological tool in understanding the people that make up a nation. The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are all subsections or strata of who makes up the adult population of the US. Each generation has certain characteristics that help define it, although not every individual will have all of them necessarily. Still, it’s good to know roughly who falls where. One benchmark that is used to identify the generations is actually rooted in tragedy, with one historical event usually standing out as a defining moment per generation. For example: Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination, the Challenger explosion, or the COVID pandemic. But in my generation, it’s the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. And as we approach the 25th anniversary of that horrific day, I think it’s worth reflecting upon it.

On 9/11, I experienced things I never thought I would. Being a sophomore in high school, the shock of the news was incredible, with whispers going through the hallways, but no official announcement from the school until the end of the day. My history teacher took his class time to show us the live news, and I watched him cry at the sheer horror at it. It felt like the world was coming undone, and even after I got home from school that day, there was a haze to what we were going through, like it was so terrible that it couldn’t possibly be true. And yet, as reality set in and the more news of what happened was revealed, the immense tragedy of it all could not be escaped.

But in those dark moments and days in the aftermath, there was also an immediate pulling together as a nation. Stories of heroism and selflessness abounded, at ground zero and well beyond. Yes, the country was hurting, but it was also resolved to not allow the senseless acts of terrorism rob us who we were as Americans. As a 16-year-old, it was hard to process the immensity of it all. Though it was tough, it was also not without hope. My faith ended up being a large part of what saw me through what seemed to be such unsettled times.

In some ways, it’s hard to capture the totality of what it was like to have lived through 9/11. And yet, here we are, as a nation 25 years down the road from it. It’s a strong testament to the American spirit that we did not allow a great tragedy to take from us our core principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And yet, there is still work to be done as well. May the Lord bring healing to the families of those deeply impacted by 9/11. May we as a nation strive for the unity that makes us stronger. And may we live in freedom and peace in the years ahead.

Peace and Goodness,

Fr. Dan