On Sept. 11, 2001, Father Daniel Murphy and his family were dealt pain almost too agonizing to bear. His brother, Edward, 42, was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in Manhattan, leaving his entire family distraught.
Shortly after the attacks, Father Murphy, then pastor of Blessed [now St.] Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Sparta, N.J., found Jesus’ comfort in the following Sunday’s Gospel: Luke 15. It tells the parables of the Lost Coin, Lost Sheep, and Prodigal Son.
As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches on Friday, Father Murphy is again reflecting on Luke 15 and what he has lost — and found —in his life since the attacks that changed the United States — and the world — forever. Today, he is a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J.
“I lost knowing a brother as an older adult, which I would have liked, and my mother, Evelyn, lost her youngest son and struggled with that,” said Father Murphy. In the tragedy’s aftermath, he has been meditating on the saving “Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection celebrated at Mass that leads us Christians from death to life.”
That’s because Father Murphy has gained much in the wake of his brother Edward’s tragic death on 9/11. For example, the priest had become Evelyn’s caregiver after the death of Edward, who lived in Clifton, N.J., and cared for her.
“In caring for my mother, I learned more about who she is — her humor, strength and faithfulness — despite her great loss,” said Father Murphy, noting that Evelyn died five years after 9/11.
Along with Father Murphy, the faithful of the Paterson Diocese will unite with all Americans on Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Faith communities across the diocese will hold memorial Masses and prayer services to pray for the victims, their families, first responders, and world peace.
The 25th anniversary is especially difficult for people in the diocese and the wider Tri-State area. Many of them had loved ones — or knew people — who were murdered in the attacks on that tragic day. All those who witnessed the brutality of 9/11 will never forget it.
In the attacks, Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan friar and former pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., was killed while serving with the N.Y. Fire Department at Ground Zero. He is buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Totowa, N.J. Several priests ministered to law enforcement, fire departments, and recovery workers at Ground Zero.
In his recent column on BeaconNJ., Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney reflects on 9/11. In part, he praises first responders, who arrived at the disaster zones at the WTC, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Penn. He also praises those who inspired these “ordinary citizens,” many of whom were formed in Catholic schools and parishes.
“If we remember and if we continue to learn the lessons taught to us by the Heroes of Sept. 11, 2001, I believe we can be stronger, kinder, more united, grateful, and prayerful as individuals and families, as communities, as a nation, and as a Church,” Bishop Sweeney writes in his column.
Father Murphy’s brother, Edward, 42, was managing director of Cantor Fitzgerald, which occupied several upper floors in WTC’s North Tower. That morning, Father Murphy was having breakfast in the Sparta Diner and overheard people talking about a plane that hit one of WTC’s towers. Fortunately, the priest’s nephew, Ryan, who worked on a lower floor at WTC, managed to escape.
“Priests often feel that they need to be the ones supporting their parishes. But after the attacks, I learned that priests also need the support of their parish families,” Father Murphy said. “My Blessed Kateri parishioners carried my family and me with their kindness and compassion. It’s important that priests learn to be vulnerable,” he said.
Also, Father Murphy discovered a passion for initiating interfaith dialogues in parishes, especially among Catholics, Jews and Moslems.
“I was determined to remember the pain and loss of my brother’s violent death and make sure it did not become a source for more violence, division and animosity in our world,” Father Murphy said. “I know that my faith life and the lives of many others have been deepened by better understanding and appreciating the faith lives of people different from Christians,” he said.
Deeply affected by the pain of 9/11, Father Murphy had the opportunity to be present in 2015 when Pope Francis visited the WTC site for an interfaith prayer service. Father Murphy said, “I was very touched by the simple gesture of his lighting a candle at the site as a sign of our call to find light in the midst of darkness.”
Together, the Murphy family found some comfort in Edward’s death by establishing a scholarship in his name for a deserving student at Xavier High School in Manhattan. Father Murphy serves there as a part-time chaplain and is a graduate.
On Friday, the day of the 25th anniversary, Father Murphy will not celebrate Memorial Masses or speak. He will concelebrate a Mass at Xavier High School the day before. Instead, he will travel to Boston, Mass., to visit Richard and his family.
They will inevitably share memories of Edward, a lifelong Clifton resident. He was chairman of the township’s Traffic Safety Commission and a former Supreme Knight of the Regina Mundi Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Edward was also an avid golfer and a marathon runner who competed in the New York and Boston marathons.
“Ed was quiet — an introvert. He was intense about his interests like running, golf, or finances. I still miss him,” Father Murphy said.
To read Bishop Sweeney’s column, “Remembering Sept. 11, 2001: What do we Remember?” click here.
