Upon emerging from the subway on 9/11, he was immediately confronted by the terrible scene at the World Trade Center. He actually witnessed the second plane crashing into the second tower. This young man attributes his vocation to that experience. One might wonder what the dynamics of that calling might have been. Was it a reaction to the suddenness, the absurdity of such unspeakable death and total destruction? In such circumstances, a person might understandably collapse into total despair about the meaning of life OR a person, in particular a Christian, might be driven to search for some hope, some meaning. This young man and his commitment are a response that rejects hopelessness and despair. Indeed, he identifies with Jesus who, though innocent, surrendered to suffering and death and was raised to new life. That doesn't diminish the suffering we can experience here nor does it offer us a satisfying explanation for the unjust, asbsur, often mindless things that can and do happen; but, it reminds us that death and darkness are not the end and it invites us to hold on to our faith and conviction that the power and the love of God will arise from the ashes. One might call to mind the motto of our new Archbishop, words addressed to Jesus by Peter when Jesus asked whether the apostles were going to give up on him. "Ad quem ibimus?" "To whom shall we go?" (John 6:68: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.") Msgr. O'Donnell