September 11, 2008
University Assembles for Prayer,
Reflection on Anniversary of September 11 Tragedy
Opening School Mass celebrations were held at St. John’s
University’s Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Oakdale campuses
on September 11 to commemorate the start of a new fall
semester. In addition, reflection and prayer services were made
available to students at all campuses in remembrance of those who
lost their lives seven years ago during terrorist attacks in the
United States.
Rev. Donald
J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University, served
as celebrant for the Queens Mass before a standing room only crowd
of more than 800 administrators, faculty, and students including
several athletic teams who lined every available square inch of St.
Thomas More Church. The Mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated in
the presence of Most Reverend Alfonso Cabezas Aristizabal, C.M.,
retired Bishop to the See of Villavicencio, Columbia, and 20
con-celebrants from among the Vincentian community at St.
John’s.
The University rallied together to symbolize the energy and
spirit of its campus communities and received words of inspiration
throughout the day. Rev. Patrick J.
Griffin, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch
Campuses, who spoke to the Queens Campus congregation during the
Homily, shared his own perspective on the occasion.
“Our University is in need of God’s Holy Spirit,” said Rev.
Griffin, C.M. “By God’s grace each one of us is who we are. We need
to respond to ways God’s grace works for us and celebrate that in
our daily lives.”
He also introduced the University’s plans for students to
celebrate “The Year of St. Paul,” consistent with Pope Benedict
XVI’s announcement of a worldwide Jubilee Celebration of Apostle
Paul’s birth from June 2008 – June 2009.
Other campus events included a 9/11 Memorial Service hosted by
St. John’s Staten Island Campus and the Office of Residence Life
attended by 80 students, administrators, faculty and staff in the
school’s Freshman Courtyard. Bells tolled and incense burned to
commemorate the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center in
conjunction with a prayer service in Oakdale and a morning mass at
the Manhattan Campus just blocks away from Ground Zero.
“The incense we burned today symbolizes the desire in our hearts
for peace and for life,” said Sr. Joan T. Mahoney, CND, Director of
University Ministry for the Staten Island Campus.
A final prayer service with music and reflection was held from
7:00-9:00 p.m. in St. Thomas More Church in Queens to close the
day’s activities.
For more regarding the Opening Mass Celebrations contact Dominic
Scianna, Assistant Vice President for Media Relations by calling
(718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
Information pertaining to St. John’s can be obtained by visiting
the University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.