Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks celebrated a vigil memorial Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on September 10, 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks before a congregation of roughly 2,000 clergy and laypeople. It was his first September 11 memorial Mass since becoming New York’s archbishop.

The ceremony drew a broad gathering of civic leaders, including former President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYPD Chief Jessica Tisch, FDNY Chief John M. Esposito, and former Gov. George Pataki. Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn concelebrated alongside a number of other bishops and auxiliary bishops. Auxiliary Bishop Edmund J. Whalen welcomed those present in person and those joining by livestream.

The Mass opened with a procession by the NYPD Pipes and Drums, followed by a color guard representing all of the city’s first responder units.

A Call to Work for Peace

In his homily, Archbishop Hicks reflected on the nearly 3,000 lives lost when terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft and struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in rural Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. He pressed the congregation not to let remembrance become an end in itself. “Faith does not allow us to stop at remembrance,” he said.

Hicks called on those present to treat healing, peace, justice, and unity as active obligations rather than conditions that arrive on their own. “Healing is not passive,” he said. “We have to work for it.”

On the day of the attacks in 2001, Hicks was a priest studying at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. The homily also recalled Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, the FDNY chaplain who died while administering last rites to a firefighter during the collapse of the towers.

Art and Candlelight

A mural by artist Adam Cvijanovic, titled What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding, was on display in the cathedral’s narthex. Following the Mass, executives, staff, and supporters of Catholic Charities of New York gathered for a short candlelight vigil.