Catholics join London residents in prayer on anniversary of bombings

Published: 2006-07-07

LONDON (CNS) -- Catholic officials in London joined others in prayer and celebrated special Masses on the first anniversary of the London terrorist attacks that left 52 people dead and more than 700 wounded. At noon July 7, Londoners observed two minutes' silence in remembrance of the victims. An hour later, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster celebrated Mass in Westminster Cathedral. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor described the anniversary of the attacks as a day of "extraordinary sorrow." He recalled the "uncomprehending grief" of the families of such victims as Ciaran Cassidy, a 22-year-old Catholic of Irish extraction, who died in a blast on an Underground train between King's Cross and Russell Square stations. In his homily, the cardinal also singled out survivor Gillian Hicks, an Australian, for her "remarkable strength of character." Hicks, who lost both legs in the Russell Square bombing, married Joe Kerr in St. Etheldreda Catholic Church, London, in December.

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