AUSTRALIANS flocked to churches around the country on September 16 seeking comfort and answers following the horror of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Dioceses reported full churches in response to a call by Prime Minister John Howard for a national day of mourning.
The vision of packed churches was echoed around the world in the days after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Two hijacked jetliners crashed into the two tallest towers of the World Trade Centre in New York and another crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, while a fourth hijacked jet ploughed into a field outside Pittsburgh.
Authorities last week were still cautious about estimating the death toll, but it is believed to be in the thousands.
In a statement on the day after the attacks, Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference president, Archbishop Francis Carroll of Canberra and Goulburn, said they were ‘acts of infamy against the entire human family’.
He offered the condolences, support and prayer of all Australian Catholics to the American people, particularly the loved ones and friends of the many victims.
‘We stand in solidarity as a nation with the people of the US and with the whole of humanity at this awful time,’ Archbishop Carroll said.
‘In a world where violence seems to be a daily event, these acts of callousness in blotting out the lives of thousands of innocent and unprepared people stand alone.
‘In response to such an unthinkable human tragedy, we pray for wise leadership in the USA and in the world.
‘We pray also for just resolutions to the many problems of this world which we all share. Violence is not the answer. Evil must be condemned, but great care must be taken lest even more innocent people suffer.’
Special Masses were celebrated in many parishes across Australia following the attacks.
In Brisbane, Archbishop John Bathersby told how he cried when he heard the news.
Addressing a congregation of several hundred people at a special lunchtime Mass in St Stephen’s Cathedral on September 12, he said: ‘I cried not only for the many thousands of terrified people who died in the shattered buildings, and for their loved ones, and for the sheer terror of those in the hijacked planes.
‘I cried for all those people whose lives would be forever traumatised by these events. And finally I cried for humanity itself.’
Archbishop Bathersby asked the question: ‘What drives some people to inflict pain and suffering, not in the frantic turmoil of a battlefield, which is tragic enough, but upon thousands of innocent bystanders going about the ordinary business of their lives – and all of this for their own selfish political ends?’
He called for prayer for the victims, their families and friends and for peace in the world and ‘that people may be drawn to negotiate for justice, peace and freedom rather than resorting to mindless violence’.
Full text of Archbishop Bathersby’s homily here St Stephen’s Cathedral administrator, Fr Peter Dillon said the number of attenders at Masses on September 15-16 was ‘outstandingly large’.
‘After the terrorist attack on America,’ he said, ‘we expected there would be more people, but we never expected the numbers who did attend.’
‘People clearly wanted some way to reach out to the people of the USA, to identify with them,’ Fr Dillon said.
‘Speaking with them, I found none blamed God for what had happened either. Rather than thinking God had deserted them, they felt that perhaps we had deserted Him and this was a way of getting back in touch with Him.’
At St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, the story was the same.
At a special Sunday evening Mass at which Archbishop George Pell was the chief celebrant, people were standing in a cathedral which seats 1000.
‘Even weekday Masses have been much better attended since the attack,’ said Fr Ray Farrell, who is on the cathedral staff.
Speaking after the terror attacks, Archbishop George Pell of Sydney said that his prayers and those of his people were with the killed and maimed and their families.
‘Australia has offered to assist the US in bringing to justice those responsible for the attacks and I support this,’ he said.
‘The attacks open up a new and horrifying page in the history of terrorism and all who value open and democratic societies should work together to meet this significant threat.
‘We pray that the leaders of the free world will be wise and strong and that those few working for a widening circle of hate and violence will be disappointed.’
On September 12, Archbishop Pell celebrated a special Mass for victims and the following day led children from the city’s Catholic schools in prayer.
In Melbourne, Archbishop Denis Hart said numbers at all cathedral Masses were bigger than usual.
The 11am high Mass, which he celebrated, was crowded, he said.
In Adelaide, Archbishop Leonard Faulkner and Coadjutor Archbishop Philip Wilson faxed a letter of solidarity to the Archbishops of New York and Washington.
At a Mass in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral after the attacks, Archbishop Faulkner echoed the cry: ‘Violence and terrorism is never the answer. Justice and dialogue to work for the good of all peoples is the only way forward.’
Sprigs of rosemary – for remembrance – were distributed at the Mass.
In Hobart, Archbishop Adrian Doyle, at the end of the 10.30am Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral on September 16, led the congregation in prayer and reflection, telling them the attacks had ‘cut at the heart of a great nation and the way of life we share’.
Archbishop Doyle also led prayers during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament that afternoon to mark the national day of mourning.
