University President Paul Locatelli, S.J. delivered a prayer for peace to commemorate the second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
During a homily delivered at noon Mass in the Mission Church, Locatelli said that in the wake of tragedy, “justice, not vengeance or revenge, must still be pursued.”
“Jesus is challenging us to overcome evil and hatred with goodness, to meet curses with kindness,” Locatelli said. “He is warning us to avoid the circle of anger that the terrorists wanted to begin. Rather, he is telling us to take the path of healing and peace, not of conflict.
He recalled the sense of faith and love expressed by the parents of Deora Bodley, an SCU student who was killed when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed outside of Pittsburgh on Sept. 11, 2001, and by student Caitlin Duffey, whose brother perished that day as well. Navy Capt. Lawrence D. Getzfred ’71 was among the victims of the Sept. 11 plane crash into the Pentagon.
“The families of 9/11 victims, even after two years, talk about love because in the face of evil and death, they, in the final analysis, clothed themselves with humility, patience, and compassion-and they learned that forgiveness is possible and part of the quest for justice.”
Locatelli said he prays that “peace will rule in the hearts of all” and he hopes that “we all believe love is stronger than hate, hope stronger than despair, and faith stronger than disbelief.”