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Three Boston Deacons Serve in the Rescue Effort at Ground Zero

Three Boston deacons, all fire chaplains with certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) served the spiritual needs of the rescuers and families of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Deacon Richard Monroe '98 was called as part of the Plymouth County Critical Incident Stress Team. His job was to provide spiritual support to the Kingston City Firefights who were called to assist at Ground Zero. The State of Massachusetts Fire Marshal called Deacon Richard Martino '00 to schedule the deployment of the interdenominational fire chaplains to New York. Deacon Martino called Deacon Norman St. Hilaire '00 to assist at the New York site and later joined him at Ground Zero.

The Diaconia asked Deacons Dick Martino, Rich Monroe, and Norm St. Hilaire to write the following descriptions of the effect serving at Ground Zero had on them.