By ALISON LESTER
Managing Editor
Every year since September 11, 2001 Saint Rose has held an interfaith memorial service to remember the lives lost on that tragic date. The very first interfaith memorial service took place on September 12, 2001. Classes were cancelled that day, and between 700 and 800 people gathered on the campus lawn to mourn the previous day’s events.
In accordance with previous years’ memorials, the service this year took place on Sunday and was held in the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary. Fr. Christopher DeGiovine, dean of spiritual life at the college, said, “I’ve hoped from the very beginning that what will come out of these services is an understanding and appreciation of other religions and cultures – without violence.” DeGiovine helped initiate the first few services.
While many other memorial services were being held in the area for the tenth anniversary, what made Saint Rose’s memorial service unique was its interfaith aspect. “This brings together a very interfaith group of people you will not see at other services,” said DeGiovine. This fact was evident at the memorial service, with people from a variety of different religious and cultural backgrounds sitting together for what DeGiovine said is the same purpose: to remember those who died, to hope, and to pray.
The community filled the Sanctuary for the interfaith memorial service, entitled “A Service of Hope and Remembrance.” More chairs were brought in to accommodate the large mixture of Saint Rose students, faculty members, and outside community members.
Other members of the congregation included Sidney and Beatrice Albert Interfaith Lecture Board members, along with the following co-sponsors: Peace and Justice Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese, Capital Area Council of Churches, Interfaith Alliance of the Capital District, Muslim Community of Troy, Board of Rabbis, Unitarian Universalist Church, Hindu Temple of Latham, Tendai Buddhist Center, and The Sikh Association of the Capital District.
The interfaith memorial service began with a welcoming by DeGiovine, who recognized the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Gathering prayers were then conducted by various members of local religious communities. The congregation rose to sing the
“World Peace Prayer” by Marty Haugen, which was led by pianist Lorraine Guyon.
Following the song, Rev. George Brennan of the Capital Area Council of Churches led the congregation in a reciting of the poem “Rest in Peace,” written in September 2001 by Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. A candle lighting in remembrance of the victims of September 11 was led by Rev. Sam Trumbore of the Unitarian Universalist Church. Prayers of peace were then conducted by several more members of local religious communities. This was followed by a memorial prayer for the 9/11 victims in which members of the congregation were encouraged to place a stone in a vase in memory of a loved one.
A loving kindness meditation was then led by Trumdore before the conclusion of the interfaith memorial service, for which DeGiovine gave a blessing. The congregation finished the service in unity by singing, “This is My Song” by Lloyd Stone.
With the interfaith memorial service officially concluded, all attendees gathered together to speak with one another and offer embraces.
“It’s important not to forget that people died tragically on this day because of hatred,” said DeGiovine.
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