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Mychal: After 9/11
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USA Today:
The Making of St. Mychal,
including reports of two miraculous healings through Father Mychal Judge's intercession -- Click here
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Associated Press:
Sainthood call for fire chaplain rises from Sept. 11 ashes.
"He was in his life, by the voice of the people, already a saint." here
See also discussion,
"Is Mychal Judge a Saint?" here
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Hear Mychal's voice!
at his last Mass on Sept.10, 2001:
"God needs you,
He needs me, He needs all of us."
from the Saint of 9/11 film:
> watch the trailer here (2 mins)
or
> the entire film
here (90 mins)
(turn up sound).
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Reflection:
The Saint of 9/11:
Discovering the Mystery of Easter
in the new documentary about
Fr. Mychal Judge
by Fr. Christopher J. Devron, SJ-- here
"Post-resurrection narratives continue to be written—as one was written in the story of Fr. Mychal Judge—and they are continually written in each of our own lives and hearts."
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Reflection:
Andrew Sullivan- here
on Fr. Devron's article (above)--
"Jesus walked among us. And until he endured the final sacrifice, most of us didn't even know".
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“The happiest man on earth”
Eulogy by Fr. Michael Duffy, OFM
at Mychal's funeral: 9/15/01 --
here
“Mychal passed through to the other side... to greet (the other firefighters) … He’s going to take them by the hand and say, 'Welcome, I want to take you to my Father.' And so, he can continue doing in death what he couldn’t finish in life”.
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Reflections:
Steven McDonald on
Mychal Judge and Forgiveness
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In 1986, NYC police detective Steven McDonald was shot and left permanently paralyzed. Fr. Mychal Judge became a close friend of the McDonald family, guiding Steven to forgive his assailant. Eventually, Steven made it his Christian mission to publicly share his story of forgiveness, including taking the message to the warring factions in Ireland, with Fr. Mychal.
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In the first article, below, McDonald shares his thoughts on the life and death of Fr. Mychal Judge.
In the second article, he discusses his experience of the healing power of forgiveness.
here - and - here
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Reflection:
The Love Story that emerged from
September 11 -- here
"It’s a Love that doesn’t come from us, but rather comes through us. It is the Love of God. During the attacks, we saw this selfless love over and over….
God's unconditional Love flowing through us….
Ego disappears, and concern about dying. Thats being lost in love, and living at your God-given potential."
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Other Reflections:
Pope’s Prayer at Ground Zero here
Irish Prime Minister pays tribute here
by Ellis Henican (Newsday) here
by Magic Mike here
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The fire jacket and helmet which Fr. Mychal was wearing when he died - perhaps the holiest of his physical relics - are now on permanent display at the NYC Fire Museum. Amazingly, they were found intact in the WTC rubble in which everything else was pulverized. Story Here.

New York Times:
Admirers of Fallen 9/11 Hero Distain Vatican's Plan to Bar Gays as Priests

Under the Vatican plan, even celibate, gifted, saintly men like Mychal Judge to be barred from priesthood.
here
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Animated Cartoon (Mother Jones):
Gays not suited for the priesthood?
Think again....
Click
here (have sound turned up)
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Vigil Honors Fr. Mychal Judge
at Ground Zero (April, 2008)
On the eve of Pope Benedict’s visit to Ground Zero, several dozen people attended “A Vigil of Hope” in memory of Fr. Mychal Judge, which culminated at the corner of Vesey and Church Streets, where Mychal’s body was first placed on 9/11. Participants prayed for “our families and friends who died on 9/11… for a change of heart, for an end to prejudice against gay persons, for understanding, peace and reconciliation”.
(See photos at bottom of page)
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Steven McDonald retraces Mychal’s
1998 peace pilgrimage to Ireland

In 1998, survivors of the Omagh bombing reached out to touch Mychal's robe as he walked among them. Steven McDonald returns ten years later.
(May, 2008)
here
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Video clip:
"Following Father Judge" --here
Father Christopher Keenan,
Mychal's successor as FDNY chaplain
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New York Times:
Father Brian Jordan: Tending
to a flock in hard hats --
here

Fr. Mychal Judge recruited Jordan to the priesthood with the sales pitch: “Don’t be an unhappy lawyer. Be a happy priest." Jordan counted Judge as his mentor. Acting on Judge’s advice, Jordan has worked among immigrants as well as construction workers.
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Mychal Judge Act becomes law
The Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers Benefit Act became law in 2002. The law allows domestic partners of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty to collect their federal death benefit. Previously, only legal spouses, parents, and children of such public safety officers could collect the benefit. Gay partners were excluded because they could not legally marry. This is the first time the federal government has extended equal benefits to same-sex couples.
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Mychal Judge nominated for
Congressional Gold Medal --
nation's highest civilian honor
here
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Mychal nominated for
Presidential Medal of Freedom

"Father Judge died as he lived - serving others...He was advised to move to a safer location, but he refused to leave his compatriots... he remained with them offering comfort and absolution until the end."
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Mychal awarded
Presidential Medal of Valor -here
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Faithful flock to Fr. Mychal's grave
New York Daily News (May, 2008) here
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Photo Essay: Father Mychal Judge
New York Daily News (May, 2008) here
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Pres. Bush cites Mychal's Prayer,
Mychal's Message, Shannon Hickey
at National Prayer Breakfast (2007)--
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President Bush: "Father Mychal's humble prayer reminds us of an eternal truth: In the quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares and we take up the cares of the Almighty...
"Mychal's Message [organization] has collected and distributed over 100,000 needed items to the poor and homeless..."
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New York Daily News:
"Mychal is still saving lives;
can you believe this?!"
The Late Father Mychal Keeps Busy
by Michael Daly: Aug. 3, 2005 -- here
Did Mychal's intercession get this woman life-saving brain surgery? Too many coincidences to be mere coincidence.
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Patron Saint of thousands
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In life, Mychal Judge ministered in extraordinary imitation of Christ, “like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart…” (Isaiah 40).
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Many thousands now pray for his intercession for many causes. Those he helped in life, and whom he continues to help include --
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firefighters and police officers,
children and seniors,
gays and lesbians,
families and single people,
and all those in distress;
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struggling and recovering alcoholics,
children with autism,
pre-natal and heart conditions,
immigrants and refugees,
the homeless and the hungry,
the sick, injured, and frightened,
people with Aids and HIV,
the bereaved who’ve lost loved ones,
the falsely accused and hostages;
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those betrayed by Church officials,
those who feel abandoned by God,
those doubting their faith,
those doubting their self-worth,
those awakening to God,
those returning to Christ,
those in spiritual renewal,
and those who minister to
“these the least of My brethren”.
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Father Mychal Judge, friend of God
and friend of all, pray for us.
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How beautiful are the feet of him who brings the Gospel of peace, announcing salvation and that God is your king! (Isaiah 52)
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Organizations
continuing Mychal's work:
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Mychal's Message
Mychal's Message is a non-profit organization created to honor the life of Father Mychal F. Judge, O.F.M.
"It is a grace to walk in his footsteps and encounter the homeless and poor, meeting basic needs, while restoring dignity with love." We can help:
Click http://MychalsMessage.org
and feature story here
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St. Francis Breadline, New York.
Every morning at 7am, Father Mychal would step out to the sidewalk in front of St. Francis church to distribute food, supplies, and blessings to the hungry and homeless. His Franciscan brothers continue this work today, and we can help. here
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Father Mychal Judge CREATE Fund, New York.
This not-for-profit organization helps the recovery of individuals and families from homelessness, substance and alcohol abuse. Fr. Mychal was on its Board for many years, and Mychal's sister and fellow friars continue to serve on its Board.
"One of our greatest friends and helpers was Father Mychal Judge. We continue to remember him and hope to honor his memory with our work." More here
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Father Mychal Judge Recovery Center
at St. Anthony's Shrine, Boston
Mychal's Franciscan brothers and professional staff provide comprehensive alchohol and drug rehab services in Boston. here
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The Father Mychal Judge Center
for Irish Exchange & Understanding
at St. Bonaventure University:
here
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Holy Name Province (OFM):
Fr. Mychal's Franciscan order
(Order of Friars Minor, founded by St. Francis)
here
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St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Fr. Mychal's home church and monastery
on West 31 St. (renamed "Father Mychal F.
Judge Street"), New York City. here
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Annual Fr. Mychal Judge
Walk of Remembrance, NYC:

annual 9/11 prayer walk from St. Francis church
to Ground Zero, tracing Mychal's final route.
Video of 2006 Walk here,
Video of 2010 Walk here
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Annual Fr. Mychal Judge
9/11 Mass, Boston:
here