Time for Mourning, Time for Prayer

By Halimah Abdullah | STAFF WRITER

September 13, 2001

Matilde Samuels said her footsteps out of the dark chaos inside Tower One were guided by God.

Samuels, a security guard at the World Trade Center, was able to dodge the shattered remnants of elevators and flames that burned like funeral pyres to lead two groups of people to safety during Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Yesterday she told the more than 250 worshipers gathered for a noon vigil at the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York in Jamaica that her faith in God helped save her.

"Balls of fire were going here and there, catching anyone it could grab," Samuels said, adding that though she helped others to safety, she would never forget those she had to leave behind. "There were two people lying on the ground with no skin. They had been burned, but they were alive. They looked up at me for help. I couldn't help them, I had to get the others out. I asked God for forgiveness."

As she spoke, parishioners sobbed, swayed and whispered prayers into clasped palms. It was a scene of spiritual solidarity that was played out at dozens of religious vigils across the area.

"We pray today for victory," the Rev. Floyd Flake told the gathering, choking back tears. "But not a victory that could be decided by the State Department and Congress. We pray that through prayers God will be able to deliver us from such evil."

For the second day in a row, Cardinal Edward Egan addressed parishioners' pain during Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Muslim and Jewish leaders did likewise, many of them soothing worried callers by phone and visiting the wounded and grieving at area hospitals.

The Archdiocese of New York will invite bishops from the tri-state area, including Rockville Centre, Newark, Brooklyn and the diocese in Connecticut, to join in Mass Sunday at 5:30 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. President George W. Bush, Gov. George Pataki and the mayor also have been invited.

At St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church in Jackson Heights, several hundred neighborhood residents - many not members of the church - flocked for a noon Mass to offer prayers for the victims, emergency workers and others who have lost friends or family members in the tragedy.

Eileen Davis, a retiree from Jackson Heights, brought her sister and daughter to the Mass. She broke down in tears, recalling that a friend of her daughter's who worked in one of the buildings was still missing.

"You can sit in your apartment and pray, but you feel more connected when you're with the community," Davis said as she stood in front of the church.

A candlelight vigil last night at Union Square Park drew hundreds of mostly young people, with many writing anti-war and antiviolence messages on paper taped to the ground, while others sang to the accompaniment of guitars and drums.

People sang the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America. Sixty candles spelled out "New York" and 30 formed a heart. But along with the expressions of patriotism and grief came anger. There were heated arguments back and forth, with some people talking about revenge, others saying wait and see.

Sophie Gharbi, 25, an actress from the West Village, came to the vigil to talk, even though people told her not to mention her Arab background.

"I came here, and I'm glad to see it's not about hatred," Gharbi said. "Everyone here is so sad. It's not about what nationality you are. Everyone here knows someone who's mourning."

Staff writer Bryan Virasami and freelancer Leonard Post contributed to this story.