For those of us old enough to remember, we can still picture the morning of the September 11 attacks — the disbelief, the fear, the calls to family and friends, and the profound sadness that settled over our city and our nation.
And yet, alongside that darkness, we witnessed something extraordinary: the courage of people who ran toward danger to help those in need.
We offer our deepest gratitude to the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, doctors, nurses, clergy, volunteers, and countless others who responded with extraordinary courage and sacrifice. Many never came home.
Today, we remember and honor every life lost on September 11 and in the years that followed as a result of the attacks. Their families remain in our prayers.
In the aftermath of that terrible day, Catholic Charities stepped up. Under the leadership of Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the 9/11 United Services Group (USG) brought organizations together to provide aid, counseling, comfort, and practical support to people whose lives had been devastated.
Every day, Catholic Charities sees human suffering and responds with love, dignity, and hope. And we are blessed to have stakeholders like you — our supporters, partners, volunteers, clergy, donors, and friends — who make that work possible.
As we remember September 11, let us honor those we lost, pray for their families, remember those who sacrificed everything to help others, and give thanks for the extraordinary Catholic Charities family that stood together in a moment of great need.
May we never forget.
May we always remember.
May we continue to turn remembrance into service, grief into compassion, and hope into action.
And may God bless those we lost, those who loved them, all who responded with courage, our great city and nation, and each member of the Catholic Charities family.
With gratitude and prayers,
J. Antonio Fernández
Chief Executive Officer
Special Message from Catholic Charities of New York CEO on the 9/11 25th Anniversary
