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Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. He is climbing a crumbling ladder and holding a bucket. A ladder was chosen because so many of the firemen died going up the stairways on 9/11. He honors all those who took part in the exhausting rescue effort and those who come to our aid and protect us each day. Bronze, six feet in height.
Many people are unaware of the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero in New York and the history of St. Peter's Church that once stood in the shadows of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. So did the parish's mission chapel, St. Joseph's Chapel, a few blocks away—on the other side (southwest) of the Center. Although the towers and other buildings were destroyed on September 11, 2001, the two churches escaped serious direct damage and are now back in full service.
Both of these churches, of course, were strongly affected by the 9/11 disasters and were directly involved in rescue activities for some weeks and months to follow. A landing gear from one of the planes struck the roof of St. Peter's. The body of Father Mychal Judge, the Franciscan fire chaplain killed by falling debris in the lobby of the North Tower, was carried into St. Peter's Church and reverently placed before the altar. The pastor of St. Peter's himself, Father Kevin Madigan, narrowly escaped death when he hurried out toward the flaming towers to see if he could be of help. And, of course, many of the rescue workers and others involved in the attacks were Catholics.
After more than 30 artists submitted proposals, John Collier of Dallas was chosen to produce four statues as memorials to groups affected by the tragedy: St. Joseph, patron of construction workers; St. Michael the Archangel, patron of police; St. Florian, patron of firefighters, and St. Mary Magdalene, first witness to the Resurrection and "apostle to the apostles." The special memorial has been designed to honor the heroes of 9/11 for the acts of love and courage they displayed that day, as well as to convey themes of hope and the Resurrection
Father Kevin Madigan wrote in a background piece distributed at the Mass that the statue of St. Mary Magdalene honored those in the planes that crashed into the towers, those who came from outside New York to help at ground zero and "those who came to the site to mourn their beloved dead."
These four sculptured figures are placed along the eastern wall of St. Joseph's Chapel, the wall closest to Ground Zero.
"St. Michael is wrestling with the serpent, forcing the serpent [Satan] into a pit. This suggests that, at the end of time, good wins over evil. St. Michael wrestles with the serpent just as police officers must struggle each day with the forces of evil, even as we all must.
Raised in the Protestant tradition, John Collier and his wife, Shirley, recently completed the RCIA process at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Richardson, Texas and came in to the Catholic Church in Easter of this year. "The greatest art in the history of the Western world," he asserts, "has been commissioned by the Catholic Church."
Mr. Collier states that he has found a deep joy in fashioning this memorial for a Christian chapel that is very close to Ground Zero. "As grand as any secular memorial might be," he says, "it can only say 'Remember.' But Our Lord offers more. He offers resurrection, which is the hope of the dead. This commission has given me the freedom to say that!"
"St. Mary Magdalene was the first witness to the Resurrection. She is hurrying to the tomb with spices. But the spice jars are unopened; there is no need for them. Christ has risen from the dead. St. Mary Magdalene honors those who serve, the airline employees and passengers and the thousands of volunteers who offered their time and talents in the recovery effort following the fall of the twin towers. Bronze, five feet in height
St. Joseph is the patron saint of the chapel in which the sculpture resides and also the patron of workers, honoring those who perished on 9/11, those who survived, those who worked in the recovery effort and all those relatives and friends who were so deeply affected by the events of that day. Bronze, five feet in height.
Saint Michael the Archangel is known for defending and protecting the souls of the faithful. He honors the police officers who gave their lives on 9/11, those who were engaged in the grueling rescue effort, and those who continue to protect us every day. Bronze, five feet in height.
