Final Christmas Mass celebrated at ground zero

Published: 2007-12-26

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The 2007 Christmas Eve midnight Mass at ground zero was the last official Mass on the former site of the World Trade Center due to future construction. Franciscan Father Brian Jordan from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan has celebrated Christmas midnight Mass every year at the site since 2001. The priest, who works with immigrants in the city, was an unofficial chaplain at ground zero after the towers collapsed. This year's Mass was attended by about 75 people, including responders to the attack and victims' families. After the Mass, Father Jordan told The Associated Press, "A lot of us felt sad this was the last official midnight Mass on-site, but at the same time, there was a sense of relief. This brought closure for us." The priest said Port Authority officials informed him that future construction work would prevent celebrations of the Mass there. He said it was fitting for the Masses to end in 2007 since it was most likely the last year victims' families would be allowed in the pit of ground zero during the Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony.

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