We will never forget - September 11, 2001

Fr. Jerry Deponai, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, celebrated the Mass. Deacon Jim Maher of St. Aedan Parish assisted at the Mass. As a community of faith, we asked the Holy Spirit to bless our new school year.  In his homily, Fr. Jerry spoke about the attack on our country twenty-four years ago. He also acknowledged the acts of violence that have become all too prevalent in our society, most notably the shootings that took place yesterday in Utah and Colorado. Fr. Jerry noted that the way to face evil is with service to others. He invited us to be people who can be positive agents of change by acting for good.

We also gathered to remember the five Albertus alumni who lost their lives on September 11, 2001: Michael McHugh ’84, Sean Fegan ’85, Brian Novotny ’86, Michael Roberts ’89, and Kevin Reilly ’91, and the two Albertus alumni who died of 9/11-related illnesses: Thomas Moran ’76 and Kevin Nolan ’79.  On campus, there are a few memorials to the AM 9/11 victims.  A memorial garden featuring a steel beam from the World Trade Center in the shape of a cross sits north of the main rotunda entrance on Germonds Road.  This garden's construction was led by AMHS Hall of Fame contributor, long-time school nurse and parent of 9/11 victim Brian - Mary Novotny.  In addition, a baseball team scoreboard was dedicated to those who died on 9/11.