Print Issue: September 19, 2002

Powerful Mass Moves School Congregation at Holy Redeemer

Patriotic displays continue to show U.S. support of victims in the wake of 9-11 terrorist attacks. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

By Roseann Bowen, Special To The Bulletin

ALPHARETTA - Holy Redeemer Elementary School commemorated the first anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 with a special all-school Mass. The moving tribute allowed students, faculty and school families to remember the lives of the victims and the families that were lost, reflect on God's faithfulness in times of crises and to pray for those who continue to protect the country.

Before Mass a PowerPoint presentation depicting images recorded throughout the tragedy and the rescue attempts was set to the music "Proud to be an American." The Mass began at exactly 8:46 a.m. with a firefighter from Station 11 in Alpharetta processing down the aisle dressed in full fire uniform carrying flowers. The firefighter stopped at a memorial that was a cross made from metal and surrounded by greenery. The silent congregation watched as he knelt and prayed quietly and laid the flowers at the foot of the memorial. After a few moments the emotional firefighter stood in front of the memorial, reflected silently and then was seated. The procession continued with each eighth-grade student solemnly walking down the aisle with lit candles, placing them on a table next to the memorial, and then bowing reverently in front of the commemorative display while six of the eighth-graders rang choir bells.

"To you kindergarteners, I pray that when you are my age you will live in a world that is completely at peace and you will never again have to face the evil that we are remembering today," said Father Linus DeSantis, OFM, Conv., campus minister at Kennesaw State University, who concelebrated Mass along with Father Joe Corbett, pastor of St. Brigid Church in Alpharetta. Father DeSantis also gave an extraordinary blessing to the men and the women in the congregation that have served in the armed forces.

"The Mass was so moving and highly appropriate," said Kevin Lievsay, a Holy Redeemer parent. "Father DeSantis had so many comforting and profound things to say. And the children were completely absorbed in the Mass. It was wonderful to have the firefighter there to pray with us. It appeared that the children and the families gained a lot from hearing today's messages. I know I did."

Tatiana Hanke, a volunteer parent, made a beautiful quilt to hang in the school's Freedom Shrine display. The quilt is decorated with an American flag and the Sept. 11 dates from last year and today.