USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Nine Days to 9/11: Looking Back and Moving Forward is USCCB Resource to Help Commemorate First Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks

Nine Days to 9/11: Looking Back and Moving Forward is USCCB Resource to Help Commemorate First Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks

WASHINGTON (July 19, 2002) –- Nine Days to 9/11: Looking Back and Moving Forward is a collection of resources prepared by several departments of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to assist parishes, schools, diocesan staffs, and various communities throughout the country to respond in a faith-filled way to the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The resources will be updated on the Conference Web site throughout the summer.

"As Catholics, we draw on our faith to make this anniversary a time to remember, a time to deepen our commitment to discipleship, and a time to strengthen our active participation in efforts to build a more just and peaceful world," the document says.

The resources for Nine Days to 9/11 were coordinated by USCCB Publishing in cooperation with the USCCB Departments of Social Development and World Peace, Education, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and the Secretariat for the Liturgy, as well as the National Catholic Educational Association.

The resource includes various suggestions on how to keep the Nine Days to 9/11. Most of the recommendations spring from the U.S. Bishops' pastoral message last November, Living With Faith and Hope After September 11, in which they called on Catholics to pray, fast, teach, dialogue, witness, do service, stand in solidarity, and be a people of hope.

Nine Days to 9/11 is a four-page brochure. It will be continually expanded with new resources added to USCCB Publishing's website (www.usccb.org/publising/9-11/index.htm)
throughout the summer, as the first anniversary of September 11 comes closer. In addition, a list of those groups that are "walking" the nine-day journey on the site will be posted.

The Church uses nine days as the traditional period of time for the devotional activity called a "novena." A novena is repeated nine successive times for special intentions, often focusing on hopeful mourning, yearning, and prayer. Novenas often end on the ninth day with a special feast of joy and hope. This is the rationale for using the concept of the novena as a framework to prepare for and commemorate the anniversary of September 11.

For more information, and to order resources, please contact USCCB Publishing toll-free at 800-235-8722 between 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. In the Washington metropolitan area or from outside the United States, call 202-722-8716. Orders and inquiries may be sent by fax to 202-722-8709. Visit the USCCB Web site (WWW.USCCB.ORG) to get more information on this or on other publications of the Conference.

The four-page resource which is the kick-off piece of the effort is available in downloadable PDF format.