At a solemn vigil Mass on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of New York addressed a congregation of 2,000 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, urging them to view healing, peace, and unity as active, daily commitments rather than passive outcomes.
A Milestone Vigil Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
On the evening of Sept. 10, St. Patrick’s Cathedral filled with clergy, civic leaders, and everyday citizens for a memorial Mass. Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, leading his first Sept. 11 memorial Mass since becoming New York’s archbishop, delivered a homily that reached far beyond mere remembrance. The congregation of about 2,000 people included prominent figures such as former President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The liturgy brought together an extensive gathering of church leadership. Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn concelebrated the Mass, joined by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Whalen and Joseph A. Espaillat also participated, alongside retired Bishop Nicolas A. DiMarzio, Auxiliary Bishop James Massa, and retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros from Brooklyn, as well as numerous priests from the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn.
First Responder Tributes and Liturgical Processions
The service began with a procession led by the NYPD Pipes and Drums, accompanied by a color guard representing all of New York City’s first responder units. Among the civic leaders seated in the pews were New York Police Department Chief Jessica Tisch and Fire Department of New York Chief John M. Esposito, alongside former New York Gov. George Pataki.
Opening the service, Bishop Whalen welcomed those in attendance both in person and via livestream. “Tonight we remember and pray for and with those who were lost on Sept. 11, and in the years following, from the illnesses related to that day. We join in prayer as one family,” Bishop Whalen stated, repeating a portion of his welcome in Spanish to reflect the diverse community mourning the tragedy.
The Hard Work of Healing Over a Quarter-Century
Reflecting on the quarter-century since the 2001 attacks, Archbishop Hicks recalled his own perspective at the time, when he was then-Father Hicks furthering his studies at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. He detailed the long road the city and nation traveled in the aftermath. “At first, we attended funerals, countless funerals. We comforted grieving families and friends. We gathered for Masses and prayer services. We cared for first responders and survivors. We donated to human service organizations that led multi-year efforts of continued assistance and aid,” the archbishop said.
He cataloged the physical and communal rebuilding efforts that followed, from reading the names of the deceased annually and building memorials to reconstructing Lower Manhattan, rebuilding the World Trade Center, and establishing the 9/11 Museum. Yet, his primary message centered on the ongoing demands of peace. “Faith does not allow us to stop at remembrance,” Archbishop Hicks declared. “Because one of the lessons we have learned over the last 25 years is that healing is not passive. Healing does not just happen. Peace does not just happen. Justice does not just happen. Unity does not just happen. We have to work for it.”
Sustained Hope and Artistic Reflection
Framing healing, peace, justice, and unity as active pursuits, the archbishop emphasized that society must strive for them day after day, conversation after conversation, and relationship after relationship. He pointed to the enduring resilience of the community, noting that the hope of knowing God walks with people has sustained New York City and the country for 25 years.
To illustrate this enduring community spirit, Archbishop Hicks drew attention to the back of the cathedral, highlighting artist Adam Cvijanovic’s mural in the narthex titled “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding.” One panel of the artwork depicts a group of first responders, serving as a visual testament to the immigrants, saints, civic leaders, and first responders who continue to anchor the city’s identity.
