ODU Commemorates September 11th 6-Month Memorial
March 6, 2002
COLUMBUS, OH - At an inter-faith prayer service in memory of September 11, Ohio
Dominican announced that a group of students will spend their spring break working at
Ground Zero and meeting with people affected by the terrorist attacks.
A group of students from Ohio Dominican Campus Ministry will work with the Salvation
Army to help feed workers at Ground Zero and offer other help in Manhattan the week of
March 9-15.
The announcement was made as members of many faiths gathered at Ohio Dominican on
Tuesday for a memorial prayer service in early recognition of the six-month anniversary
of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The service was held in the week prior to the
actual six-month anniversary of the attacks so students could participate before leaving
for spring break the following week.
A Catholic priest, a Protestant minister, and a Muslim cleric led the community in
prayer and reflection in Erskine Hall.
"It has never been more important that communities of different faiths come
together in understanding," said Ohio Dominican President Dr. Jack Calareso.
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| Senior Bonnie Buzenski and junior Carrie Raymond with the prayer quilt they
will present to the community at Dominican Academy in Manhattan over spring break. |
The call to prayer was offered by Imam Emile Bashir of the Muslim Community Center.
The Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith, Pastor of the Advent United Church of Christ, offered the
scriptural reading. And reflections were offered by Dr. Calareso, Fr. Ron Atwood of St.
Thomas the Apostle Church, and Fr. G. Michael Gribble, Chaplain of Ohio Dominican.
In the first week after the September 11 attacks, the Ohio Dominican community held
a similar service that drew hundreds. As part of that service, a prayer wall was created
to allow people the opportunity to post reflections and prayers.
For the six-month service, students at Ohio Dominican wrote prayers and reflections
that were sewn into a prayer quilt by members of the First Community Church in Grandview.
The quilt was displayed at Tuesday's service and members of the community were given the
opportunity to select a prayer to personally offer daily in the week following the
service.
"The terrorists attempted to sow hate, but through the power of interfaith
understanding and prayer, we will instead reap love," said Ohio Dominican
President Dr. Jack Calareso. "In September we came together in a spirit of grief.
Now, we join in a spirit of hope."
The college created a special relief fund in cooperation with the sisters and
students at the Dominican Academy, an institution in Manhattan run by the Dominican
Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, who founded Ohio Dominican University. By joining
with a community near the attacks, the college has been able to direct dollars to where
they are needed most. More than $11,000 has been raised for the fund.
Dominican Academy is located on East 68th Street in New York and has identified
specific needs of many victims. The funds were forwarded to Dominican Academy for
distribution to appropriate social service and emergency agencies.
On their spring break trip Campus Ministry students will present the prayer quilt
to the students and faculty at Dominican Academy.
"Since September 11, it has been so easy to feel helpless, like there's
nothing you can do. This gives us the opportunity to do something to really make a
difference," said Bonnie Buzenski, a senior from Galloway majoring in theology
who will be making the trip.
