Welcome, Don’t be afraid…let me take you to our Father

And then I will take you to your family and they will get you settled in…

His name is Mychal Judge.  He arrived on September 11, 2001. 

He was a Franciscan Friar and Chaplain for the New York City

Fire Department when the plane hit the towers.

He went to the towers that day and immediately started

Giving Absolution and praying with victims and rescue workers in the Lobby of tower 1 .

He had just finished with one victim when he was hit

By falling debris.  He was the first victim pulled from

The towers by his fellow fire fighters.  His body was

Labeled as Victim # 1.

He was so loved by them that they carried him to

A nearby church and laid him on the altar before

They returned to the towers.

He was part of the Fathers plan that day.  He brought him home

Knowing that they were going to have a busy day in heaven…a lot

Of family was coming home battered and scared.

He knew they would need a warm smiling face to greet them

And get them settled in.  Mychal was the perfect choice

The warm loving Irishman believed everyone was

A child of God and he had a smile that

Shined like the sun.

He would be the perfect greeter at Heaven’s Gate.

You are remembered Mychal and you are missed

Here on earth.  I look forward to meeting

You when I walk through those gates.

Susan Bergeron

                          September 7, 2011