QUINCY — When terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, by crashing hijacked airliners into New York's World Trade Center, Father Mychael Judge, OFM, a fire department chaplain, rushed to the scene to administer sacraments to dying firefighters. In ministering to others, Father Mychael himself became the first officially announced fatality of 9-11. NYC firemen said Father Mychael opened the gates to heaven for the firefighters and others soon to arrive.
Brother Ed Arambasich, a Franciscan in New Orleans, called Father Chris Keenan, OFM, who immediately took Father Mychael's place, to ask if he could also come to the scene to minister. He was told to come in six months since the need for physical and spiritual healing would be ongoing.
When he arrived at Ground Zero, Brother Ed worked with victims, their families and with fire and police personnel who had tried to save people. In the aftermath, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, including 343 firefighters. Brother Ed knew then and there that Father Mychael was one of his heroes and he too wanted to serve as a fire department chaplain.
The Arambasich family grew up attending Catholic schools in Joliet, where Ed's Uncle Bill Telfer was a firefighter at Engine House #5, and his own childhood dream was to be either a firefighter or a friar. He instead became a Benedictine monk for 20 years. During this time, he served in campus ministry and the dean's office at Benet Academy in Lisle, the fourth wealthiest county in the country. His students taught him a great deal about caring for those less fortunate.
"They had hearts of gold for the poor and showed me the way to embrace my vocation," Brother Ed said. "I became attached to St. Francis of Assisi and his devotion to common people and joined that order. Now that I am older, I appreciate that earlier part of my life with the Benedictines and the solitude needed for a love relation with God. The Benedictines gave me the wings and the Franciscans taught me to fly!"
Brother Ed says that Franciscans are the blue collar workers of the church who, like Francis himself, walk with ordinary people — unique and a blessing in their simplicity. As a Franciscan, Brother Ed served seven years at an AIDS hospice in New Orleans where people were dying every week and in a similar position for one year in San Francisco.
"Francis was a down-to-earth person who, like Jesus, loved to be with people. He knew we are all sons and daughters of a God who loves us so much despite our failings and human ways," said Brother Ed. "Good ministry means good presence and a good minister is someone who is with the congregation. Francis' motto was 'Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words.'"
Brother Ed is now in his 12th year as chaplain for both the Quincy and Adams County's fire and police departments, as well as regional district of the Illinois State Police. He previously served in campus outreach and as a minister at Quincy University.
How does a fire and police chaplain minister to public servants who daily witness horrendous human tragedy and often struggle in the wake of chaos and catastrophe?
"I tell firefighters and policemen we are gifts of God walking with people at the worst times in life," Brother Ed said. "We can cope with it by telling the story, and for this we go to the Holy Cross Friary, where they feel safe and can talk to me and to each other. I am a friend they can come to and help in the healing process. The St. Francis Chapel at QU is the fire and police sanctuary and is always open for them. At the back of the chapel is an icon of St. Florian of Austria, the patron saint of firefighters, and in the front is an icon of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of police officers."
Part of Brother Ed's job is communicating with hospital chaplains about his experience during tragedies and attending, along with firefighters, the funerals of people who have perished in fires.
"Firefighters, police and EMTs have a strong fraternal care for one another and are our guardian angels," he said.
This Franciscan, who was an iron worker before his religious vocation, says that Pope Francis has begun speaking about the important role lay brothers and sisters play in the church in bringing the message of God's love to people.
On a more personal note Brother Ed adds, "God has placed people in my life to make me who I am. These people include my mother and father, friars and sisters, Quincy Fire Chief Joe Henning, Police Chief Rob Copley, and Illinois State Police Lieutenant Glen Schwartz and all fire and police personnel."
A cross made of steel from the collapsed World Trade Center hangs in the Central Fire Station in Quincy, and on that cross Brother Ed has attached a piece of glass he found at Ground Zero. It honors the people who died on that day of national tragedy and those who valiantly tried to save them, as well as the noble effort of firefighters everywhere.
But more than this, Brother Ed says, it is a reflection of God's love for all of his children as they walk together in the spirit of Jesus along our earthly pilgrimage. This Christian spirit is profoundly and poignantly seen in the benevolence and bravery of those public servants who protect and provide assistance to us at our time of greatest need and those chaplains, like Brother Ed Arambasich.