ODU Remembers...

September 23, 2002

COLUMBUS, OH - Throughout the day on Sept. 11, Ohio Dominican University held services commemorating the victims of last year's tragedy.

Ohio Dominican began its first service at 8:40 a.m. in silent reflection led by Campus Ministry Director Fr. Greg Jones, on the Oval outside of Erskine Hall. The community then recited the "Lord's Prayer" led by Sharon Reed and sang "America the Beautiful" led by Sr. deChantal Lorenz.

Campus Ministry Director, Fr. Greg Jones leads the campus community in prayer on the Oval.

Faculty Forum discusses the reprocussions of 9/11 with the campus community. Left to right: Tim Walker, Dr. Kenneth Fah, Professor Patsy Daly and Dr. Jeannette Knowles.

Students gather at 9:00pm on the Oval for a candlelight vigil.

President Dr. Jack Calereso concluded the service with a brief reflection on the day as well as with an invitation to keep our nation in prayer.

Before heading off to class or work, many of the faculty, staff and students placed flowers under the inscription of the school's motto, "To contemplate truth and to share the fruits of those contemplations," which is written on the front wall of Erskine.

Events continued at 11:45pm in the Chapel with a faculty forum that was designed to commemorate the events of Sept 11, and their aftermath in terms of three Catholic Dominican virtues: Justice, Forgiveness and Truth.

Sr. Catherine Colby, O.P introduced the panel with a poetic reflection. Then the four faculty members seated on the panel, Tim Walker, Dr. Fah, Professor Daly, Dr. Jeannette Knowles and Dr. Barbara Finan, the moderator, reflected on how they saw these events in light of the three virtues.

At the concluding event of the day, the Ohio Dominican community met on the oval a second time for a candlelight prayer vigil at 8:45 p.m. The large white Dominican candle was burning in front of the wall.

Silent prayer began the service. Then Dr. Philipa Burgess led the University Chorus in singing "Amazing Grace."

President Calareso spoke to the community and started the lighting of the candles. Once all the candles were lit, Fr. Jones led a shared prayer and silence. The chorus followed by singing the National Anthem.

At the end of the service, Fr. Jones invited the community to extinguish their candles, but "to keep the flame alive in there hearts and lives."