Three Priest Heroes: They Saved Both Lives and Souls

NEW YORK — In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, several New York priests showed their true heroic colors. Giving little thought to themselves, they ran to the burning towers to offer aid and absolution.

Two years later, examples of priestly heroism continue to inspire. For an Italian priest, a New Jersey priest and a Brooklyn priest, saving lives is simply part of their job.

Rescue in the Surf: When Italian priest Father Stefano Gorzegno offered to take some parishioners to the beach, little did he know the sacrifice that would be required of him. On July 30 Father Gorzegno, a pastor in Bojano, Italy, gave his life to save the lives of seven of his parishioners.

Father Gorzegno had accompanied approximately 50 children, ages 12-16, for a summer day-trip to the Adriatic seaside town of Termoli. He had previously taken groups of altar boys and choir members on trips to the mountains, but this time he decided to take the youth to the sea.

“We have seen enough of the mountains for a while,” he reportedly told the youth.

Although the seas were rough, several of the children went swimming in the shallow water. Prone to treacherous currents, the waves began tossing some of the children against a rocky breakwater. Seven of the children found themselves in deeper water and being taken out to sea.

When they called for help, Father Gorzegno responded.

Still dressed in his cassock, the 44-year-old priest dived into the waves to save the children who had been trapped by the sea's strong undercurrents. After safely getting all seven children ashore, Father Gorzegno's dead body was washed to shore, his lungs filled with water.

Described as an expert swimmer and scuba driver, the priest served as a “pied-piper figure” to the youth at St. Erasmus Church.

A funeral was held for the priest Aug. 1.

“He died a true hero,” said Robert Colacillo, mayor of the small agricultural town. “Because of him, seven of our children are still alive.”

Hero With No Name

Also this summer, an unidentified priest saved a 20-yar-old New Jersey woman from danger, possibly saving her life.

On July 7, the priest thwarted the potential abduction of the woman by a man whose offer of a ride she had rejected while walking along Route 3 East in Clifton, N.J. The “mystery” priest serves in Essex County in the Newark Archdiocese.

After reading newspaper accounts of the event, the priest apparently went to police headquarters and identified himself. He thought that perhaps he could be an important witness in helping to identify the would-be abductor.

According to Catholic News Service, the woman described the priest as a “heavy-set, white-haired, white man in his 60s who wore glasses and was driving a gold car.” She told of how the priest calmed her down, drove her to her job and left without giving his name or stating where he was from.

The priest, who requested that his name not be released, told police, “I only did what I thought I should do.”

Saving Lives Every Day

For Msgr. Philip Reilly, saving lives is a daily occurrence.

As the founder and director of the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Helpers of God's Precious Infants, Msgr. Reilly's organization has saved an estimated 50,000 unborn children in New York alone since he started the group. In recognition of his efforts, the Friends of Cardinal Cooke Guild will honor him with the 2003 Cardinal Cooke Right to Life Award at their annual luncheon Sept. 22.

Founded in 1989, the Helpers of God's Precious Infants provide a peaceful, prayerful presence and sidewalk counseling outside hundreds of abortion sites across the country. The effort began with Msgr. Reilly and five people praying the rosary outside an abortion site. Today, the Helpers are active in more than 40 states and dozens of countries.

Msgr. Reilly often spends five to six hours outside various abortion sites, arriving as early as 6:30 a.m. and staying until 3 p.m. There he prays and hands out rosaries to mothers as they enter and leave the abortion site.

“If nothing else works, you offer the rosary,” Msgr. Reilly said. “People of all faiths and no faiths take them.”

Msgr. Reilly recalled the story of one woman who approached him.

“I gave her a rosary and said, ‘Mom, may I give you this gift?’”

She asked, “Why are you here?” “I responded that we were impelled by love — love for the abortionists, for the unborn and for the mothers going in. ‘That is why I am speaking to you at this very moment. Jesus died for you. He loves you.’”

She replied, “Father, I know that you think that I had the abortion, but I did not. I kept remembering the people out here who were praying and those who talked to me before I went in. I am keeping my child.”

Then she told him, “Continue to be here. It is a very holy work that you do, for there will be other women tomorrow. Be here for them.”

Msgr. Reilly was in front of the Ambulatory Surgery Center in New York praying with Father John Delendick of St. Michael the Archangel Parish on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. One of two Catholic chaplains with the New York fire department, Father Delendick was called to the towers. Msgr. Reilly remained behind to pray for the unborn and their mothers.

“When the Trade Center was hit, almost everything stopped in New York,” Msgr. Reilly said, “but the killing of babies went on.”

Father Delendick led a Helpers' prayer vigil just days after the terrorist attack. Msgr. Reilly quoted Father Delendick's comments prior to the vigil.

“He said: ‘I am taking you to the ongoing Ground Zero. It's the place where innocent life is under attack. If you want to be a rescuer, stand up today and rescue the unborn. Sept. 11 continues not far from where any of you live,” Msgr. Reilly recalled.

The Helpers do not allow demonstrations, picketing or protesting.

“We do it with love and prayer and fasting. To be pro-life is to desire eternal life for everyone, not just to desire physical life for the children,” Msgr. Reilly said. “Wherever the killing is taking place, God's people should be there. Christ should not be crucified without some of his disciples there at the foot of the cross.”

During their time in New York, the volunteer Helpers have been successful in having 23 of New York's abortion sites closed down.

“That's a tremendous witness for life,” Msgr. Reilly added. “There are ordinary people all over the place doing extraordinary things.”

Tim Drake writes from St. Cloud, Minnesota.