A Healing Presence

NEW YORK CITY

As he did a countless number of times, Father Mychal F. Judge of Local 299 (DC 37) rushed to the scene of a fire one Tuesday morning at the World Trade Center. That was the last time he put on a firefighter's hat.

On Sept. 11, after the first hijacked plane struck the trade center, Father Judge stood anxious vigil as more than 300 firefighters sprinted into the burning South Tower. Moments later, he himself entered the building, and was soon kneeling to administer last rites to a mortally injured firefighter. "Father Mike," as he was fondly called, removed his helmet to pray, and was struck on the head and killed by falling debris. The four firefighters who carried his body away from the carnage escaped certain death when the building came crashing down.

Firefighters then carried his body to St. Peter's Church and, later, to a firehouse. It was 50 years to the day since he entered seminary.

Father Judge, 68, had served the men and women of New York City's Fire Department as its chaplain for nine years. At his funeral, he was eulogized as "fearless and strong," "a man of faith and fervor" and "an American hero." Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton were among those who packed the 3,300 seats of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The priest's life touched a broad spectrum of humanity. His myriad Franciscan ministries attended to the needs of the homeless, crime victims, street youths and those afflicted with AIDS. He gave them food and clothing and compassion. In the 1980s, when most churches were shunning people with AIDS, Judge ministered to them from Manhattan's St. Francis Church.

A paralyzed police officer recalls how a cousin of his was disowned by his family because he had contracted AIDS. The father stepped in to care for him and held the man's hand on his deathbed, as he did for countless others.

In 1996, Father Judge comforted the families of victims of the TWA Flight 800 disaster. In the weeks and months following the crash, he counseled many of the relatives and in some cases continued serving as their personal pastor.

A year ago, Father Judge told the Los Angeles Times, "In seminary, you can get all the theology and Scripture in the world, and you land in your first parish, and you find out it's you — the personality and the gifts that God gave you."

DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders said of Father Judge: "Like Carlos Lillo and Ricardo Quinn, Father Mike gave his life helping others. They were city workers doing their jobs, but their bravery went well beyond the call of duty. We never can — and we never will — forget them."