The churches have been holding the 9/11 memorial Mass together since 2006.
The Sept. 11 memorial at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex in Springfield. CHICOPEE – Eight Roman Catholic parishes from this city and Ludlow will join together on Sept. 11 to hold a memorial Mass for those who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
The annual event started in 2006 and is run by the Deanery Pastoral Council, which joins together the five parishes in Chicopee and the three in Ludlow. Churches rotate in hosting the event, and this year it is scheduled for St. Anthony of Padua Church in Chicopee, said J. Bruce Broyles, of Chicopee, interim chairman of the Deanery Pastoral Council.
It is one of several events offered this year to remember those who died in the attacks.
“We are honoring the memory of the poor, innocent victims who went to work one day and never went home. That is really what it is all about,” he said.
The memorial service includes the police and firefighters who ran into the towers to try to help trapped people, but does not forget the accountants, computer technicians, financial workers and flight attendants who were killed because they simply were doing their jobs, he said.
“We also honor those members of the military who answered the call of duty after 9/11,” Broyles said.
The Mass will be held at 5:30 p.m. The group decided it should always be on Sept. 11 instead of a weekend before or after the dates of the attacks, he said.
Last year nearly 1,000 people attended the mass at St. Rose de Lima Church, but it was the 10th anniversary of the attacks and it also held on a Sunday, he said.
“We will probably get 300 to 400 people. St. Anthony’s holds 450 and we would love to fill the church and have people standing in the aisles,” Broyles said.
The main celebrant will be Rev. James McCurry, the head of the Franciscan religious order, and priests from all the parishes will also attend. The Knights of Columbus will provide an honor guard, and taps will be played. Police, fire department and veterans’ groups have also been invited, said George R. Moreau, chairman of the Parish Council for St. Anthony’s and the Chicopee City Council chairman.
A joint choir made up of 35 different members of the different churches will also sing at the service, he said.
The event is not limited to just members of the eight churches. Some people who lost family members or friends will also attend the event, Moreau said.
“A lot of people are interested in the Mass ... It is going to be a big deal,” he said.
After the services St. Anthony’s will also hold a reception in the church, Moreau said.