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Rochester, NY 14624
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Courtesy of Catholic Communication Campaign,

CHURCH ETCHES LOSS, SACRIFICE IN STONE

St. Helen's of Gates unveils marker

Written by Joy Davia - Democrat & Chronicle

(September 11, 2006) The crowd inched closer around St. Helen's Catholic Church's front lawn Sunday morning, preparing for this Gates-Chili community's annual Sept. 11 remembrance.

The Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes and Drums band marched down the firetruck-lined street, ending at the church and before hundreds of parishioners. Moments later, with the Rev. John Firpo at the podium, senior pastoral minister Ron McMillan pulled back a blue plastic tarp and unveiled an engraved stone to observe the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

"May it become for us a place for prayer and remembrance," Firpo said of the engraved stone. It says, "Remember 9-11-2001 and those who serve us every day."

The point of the Gates church's annual event is to mourn those who died on Sept. 11, while also honoring the emergency workers who risk their lives every day.

This year, church officials added the stone dedication to the annual event. The newly unveiled stone embedded in mulch and flanked by two sets of mums sat under a tree and an American flag. A bench also ran along the display, which McMillan, 57, of Gates, hoped emergency workers would use when they need a moment to reflect.

A church service followed the dedication, and Firpo told the 425 people in attendance not to forget the good that happened "in the midst of such evil."

Firpo called forth representatives from local emergency teams ? such as fire departments, police units, a volunteer ambulance group and the Air Force ROTC who got a standing ovation.

George Bartnett, the church's head usher, stood in the lobby during the service. He recalled his horror when a person the other day did not know the importance of Dec. 7, 1941, which was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. "It's appropriate that we should have this every year so that people remember," said Bartnett, 80, of Chili.

Following the service, Harvey Hibbard, 78, of Gates paused before the memorial stone. "It's the duty of all Americans to remember what happened," he said.

Memorial Stone donated by Alvah Halloran & Son Funeral Home

Gates remembers, five years later

Christine Carrie Fien
Messenger Post Staff

A solemn service marks the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, at St. Helen Church.

GATES - Julie Lazeski can't forget Sept. 11, 2001, and she's not ready to forgive, either. "I know it's not charitable, but it is how I feel," she said. Although she lives in Greece, Lazeski came to Gates Sunday to mark the anniversary of the worst attack on American soil with the congregation of St. Helen Church. "I wanted to be here because I can't ever get over Sept. 11," she said. "It's a tribute to the people who sacrificed their lives."

Lazeski was supposed to be in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, for a trade show, but her flight was cancelled after the attacks. "I still have the credentials for the trade show," she said. "I cannot throw them away."

St. Helen held a memorial service Sunday to pray for those who lost their lives five years ago and "to honor those who serve us and keep us safe," said Senior Pastoral Minister Ron McMillan. On Sept. 11, 2001, McMillan was in sales and traveling to Jamestown, N.Y., on business. "I walked in the store down there and one guy says, 'Do you know what just happened?'" McMillan recalled. "I packed up everything and headed back home to be with my family."

Reflecting on the anniversary, McMillan said that while he knows the people who died have gone on to a better place, he never wants the rest of us to forget what happened that day. "People dropped everything and ran into those buildings to help," he said. "What kind of love that expresses."

McMillan actually invited President George W. Bush to Sunday's service at St. Helen. "I figured, 'What the heck, may as well send him an invitation,'" he said. "I never heard anything back."

The Gates police and fire departments were at the service as well as the mounted patrol from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes and Drums performed. A band member and Gates police lieutenant, Jim VanBrederode remembers his first reaction after hearing of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was to spring into action.

"I wanted to go down there and do something - get a police car and go down there," he said. VanBrederode said the attacks really forced him to pay attention to world events. "Before, I never really followed it. I couldn't keep track of who's who ... It was all happening 'over there,'" he said. "Now, you know everything."

Prior to Mass, the Rev. John Firpo, pastor of St. Helen, dedicated a memorial stone outside the church. The stone reads, "Remembering 9-11-2001 and those who serve us every day." "May it become for us a gathering place for prayer (and) remembrance," Firpo said.

Firpo blessed the stone with holy water and then led the congregation inside. Two women who had held each other throughout the ceremony, crying, walked hand in hand into the church.

Gates remembers, five years later

Christine Carrie FienMessenger Post Staff

Christine Carrie Fien
Messenger Post Staff