Sixth Grade
Worksheets
9/11 Hero: Father Mychal Judge
If you were asked what you what you wanted for Christmas, how long would your list be? When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Mychal Judge replied, "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! I have everything in the world."
Mychal Judge was born in the midst of the Great Depression in Brooklyn, New York, on May 11, 1933. He was the only son of Irish immigrants. At the age of six, he watched his father die after an extended illness. He shined shoes at the nearby railroad station to help his mother put food on the table. By the time he was twenty-one, he felt called to become a priest and joined the Franciscan Order. He served as a priest for several parishes in New York and New Jersey after he was ordained. In 1986, he was assigned to the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan, the church he had visited as boy.
Perhaps as a result of the difficulties he experienced as a young child, he had great compassion for those who were suffering. He treated everyone he met like a member of his family. He remembered special days in people's lives and sent notes of encouragement to them. Through the years, he provided comfort to many families who lost loved ones. His wise counsel brought comfort to those who were grieving. When people needed encouragement, he asked their permission to touch them, and then he prayed for a blessing upon them.
It was during his time in New Jersey that he developed a love for firefighters and the job they performed. He spent many hours volunteering for the fire department in his free time. He was appointed chaplain of the Fire Department of New York City in 1992.
When Father Mychal was told on September 11, 2001, that hijacked jets had hit the New York World Trade Center, like all other firefighters, he rushed to the site. The New York mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, asked Father Mychal to pray for the city as they met on the street in front of the Twin Towers. Father Mychal rushed to the many victims of the blast to pray with them and administer last rites.
