PROVIDENCE – A group of dedicated volunteers gathered last week in Cathedral Square for a Day of Service in anticipation of the Mass of Remembrance and Blessing celebrated on Sunday by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin.
Volunteers from the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Men of St. Ambrose, two refugees assisted by the Office of Catholic Charities and Social Ministry, and several diocesan employees collected debris and removed trash from the plaza.
The following day, several of the volunteers returned to adorn Cathedral Square with purple and yellow mums, which had been donated for a special Mass of Remembrance and Blessing to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
One volunteer, Rita St. Pierre, the president-elect of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Providence, described Sept. 11, 2001 as “surreal.”
St. Pierre recalled being at work when the first airplane hit the Twin Towers, and being so anguished that it was hard to accomplish any tasks as the tragedy unfolded throughout the day.
“It’s a reminder for me to pray for the victims, their families and our leaders and just like the Holocaust, we must never forget,” the St. Vincent de Paul leader said as she raked leaves and small branches that fell during the recent tropical storm.
St. Pierre added that it’s important to continue conversations about 9/11 to educate future generations about the significant impact that the events had upon society and the sacrifices that almost three thousand victims and countless thousands of others made during the dark period in world history.
Maria Rose, president of the Holy Name of Jesus Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and president-elect of the Providence District Council, was in Senegal when the tragic events occurred 10 years ago.
“I was in a fishing village,” she recalled. “Some people were happy. They thought that the Americans had it coming to them.”
Despite the negative reactions toward Americans, Rose said she felt safe while in Africa because she wasn’t near the attacks.
“I hope all the money that they’ve spent on security has paid off,” she emphasized.
