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September 11

9/11 Hero: Father Mychal Judge

9/11 Hero: Father Mychal Judge
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.45

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    administer, chaplain, counsel, firefighter, hath, pastor, rubble, scripture, priest, command, attendance, provided, midst, shortly, collapse, spiritual
     content words:    Mychal Judge, Great Depression, New York, Franciscan Order, Rochelle Park Church, New Jersey, Fire Department, New York City, Father Judge, New York World Trade Center

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9/11 Hero: Father Mychal Judge
By Joyce Furstenau 		  
1     If you were asked what you what you wanted for Christmas, how long would your list be? When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Mychal Judge replied, "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! I have everything in the world.1"
 
2     Mychal Judge was born in the midst of the Great Depression in Brooklyn, New York, on May 11, 1933. He was only the son of two Irish immigrants. He watched his father die from an extended illness at the age of six. He shined shoes at the nearby railroad station to help his mother put food on the table. By the time he was twenty-one, he felt called to become a priest and joined the Franciscan Order. He served as pastor of both St. Joseph and Rochelle Park Church in New Jersey after he was ordained.
 
3     Perhaps as a result of the difficulties he experienced as a young child, he had great compassion for those who were suffering. He treated everyone he met like a member of his family. He remembered special days in people's lives and sent notes of encouragement to them. Through the years, he provided comfort to many families who lost loved ones. His wise counsel brought comfort to those who were grieving. When people needed encouragement, he asked their permission to touch them, and then he prayed for a blessing upon them.
 
4     It was during his time in New Jersey that he developed a love for firefighters and the job they performed. He spent many hours volunteering for the fire department in his free time. He was appointed chaplain of the Fire Department of New York City in 1992.
 
5     When Father Judge was told on September 11, 2001, that hijacked jets had hit the New York World Trade Center, like all other firefighters, he rushed to the site. The New York Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, asked Father Judge to pray for the city as they met on the way to the Twin Towers. Father Judge rushed to the many victims of the blast to pray with them and administer last rites.

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