Contact Information
1404 East 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696-6525
(800) 869-6525
September 10, 2026
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On this 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we pause in solemn remembrance of those whose lives were taken that day, those who were injured and the families whose grief and loss continue to this day.
Sept. 11 left an indelible mark on our nation and on our world. We remember the innocent victims who went to work or boarded planes expecting an ordinary day. We remember the heroic first responders – firefighters, emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers – along with military personnel, clergy medical professionals and countless others whose courage shone brightly amid the darkness of that day and the difficult days that followed. Their selfless service remains a testament to the dignity of human life and the power of sacrificial love.
We also remember how Americans turned to prayer in the midst of fear and uncertainty. Churches filled, communities came together and neighbors cared for one another. In those painful days, we were reminded that God does not abandon his people. Even in moments of profound suffering, the Lord walks with us, offering comfort, strength and hope.
Twenty-five years later, we continue to pray for those who still carry the burdens of Sept. 11: families who lost loved ones, survivors, first responders who still bear physical and emotional wounds and all whose lives were forever changed. We pray as well for a new generation that knows these events only through the accounts of others. And we continue to pray for peace in our world that remains too filled with violence.
The memory of Sept. 11 calls us not only to look back but also asks us to renew our commitment to charity, unity and respect for the God-given dignity of every human person. Hatred can never have the final word. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be instruments of peace, witnesses to truth and bearers of hope in a world in desperate need of healing.
May we honor the memory of those who died by living lives marked by faith, compassion and service to others. And may God inspire all of us to persist in the work for peace, justice and the common good.
May God bless you and those you love.
Most Rev. Edward C. Malesic
Bishop of Cleveland
