Prep Talk

Fr. Reilly gives 9/11 Invocation

Posted September 11th, 2011

The following is the invocation which Fr. Donald Reilly, OSA, D. Min. gave at the Buena Vista Township 10th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Service and
World Trade Center Steel Beam Dedication
:

“Loving God, to know you is not necessarily to understand you or your ways. We know that our faith is more about trust at times than belief, more about hoping your ways have meaning and purpose for our lives than not. We have lived long enough to know that good can come from evil, that your plan is far greater than our knowledge or imagination. What we pray for today on this 10th anniversary of the brutal attacks on our country, the anniversary of the loss of thousands of lives in PA, in Washington, D.C., in New York City is that ultimately, the difficult and challenging road to safety and security in our nation and in our world is achieved by working for peace.  We pray for the consolation of the families and friends of those who lost their lives on that awful and horrific day ten years ago. Guide our elected leaders to defend the innocent and vulnerable while working for peace and justice that what happened on our soil ten years ago never happen again.


We your people gathered here today commit ourselves to living lives intent on treasuring the values of our country: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We further commit ourselves, in memory of those who lost their lives on this day ten years ago, to notice discord and attempt to bring harmony, to stand up for those in danger and offer safety, to recognize threatening language and behavior and challenge it whenever and wherever we hear and see it.
Direct all our actions by Your holy inspiration and carry them out by Your gracious assistance so that every prayer and good work of ours may always begin from You and by You be happily ended through a loving God who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.”