To
many, their work would be unimaginably gruesome. Eight-hour shifts in
a morgue across the street from the World Trade Center rubble, blessing
the remains of the victims of the world’s most deadly terrorist attack.
But the Massachusetts fire chaplains working in the morgue – including
several Conference clergy members – know they are doing God’s work.
“Being there when someone comes into the world, and being there to bid
farewell to someone, is always a holy moment,” said Dennis Bailey, pastor
of the First Congregational Church in Billerica, UCC. “The atmosphere
in the morgue is sadness and mourning, but it is also solemn and respectful.”
Bailey was among a team of nine from the Massachusetts Corps. of Fire
Chaplains who worked in New York the week of September 16th. Another
team there the following week included Don Remick, pastor of the First
Congregational UCC in Hanover, and Gary Blume, pastor of First Church
in Weymouth.
Upon his return, Bailey said it was rewarding to be able to help in
the wake of the disaster.
“I know there are millions of other people who would like to be able
to go down there. My fire and police departments said they appreciated
my ability to go down and do something on their behalf,” he said.
While fire chaplains have been around for decades, the Massachusetts
Corps of Fire Chaplains was formed just over two years ago. Through
that organization, local fire chaplains can get training and mutual
support – and can be available in times of crisis.
Another Conference chaplain involved in the crisis has been Jane Vieira
of New Bedford, a US Navy chaplain. Vieira has been working at the Pentagon
crash site, blessing the remains of victims as they are lifted into
a truck on the scene.
“Please know that every body we remove from the wreckage receives three
blessings,” Vieira said in an email message to friends and colleagues
in the Old Colony Association. “We treat them as sacred and try to bring
as much dignity as possible.”
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