Diocesan priest with troops in NYC

Rev. Anthony Diacetis, pastor of Our Lady of Grace parish in Ballston Lake, is a chaplain in New York State's Army National Guard. His unit left for New York on Sunday to relieve a unit of guardsmen sent there right after two planes crashed into the World Trade Center.

As The Evangelist went to press, Father Diacetis was the only priest from the Diocese to go to New York, although administrative advocate Rev. Edward Deimeke noted that nearly 60 other priests have agreed to go to perform funeral services or parish duties if requested.

Change in plans

"I had just finished celebrating Mass. I was preparing for a staff meeting when we found out a second plane had crashed," he told The Evangelist just before leaving. "We suspended the staff meeting, and I watched [the coverage] on TV. It was then that I got the call from the National Guard that we were activated."

The priest had little time to become emotional about the call-up -- his first since a 1998 ice storm hit upstate New York.

"My initial reaction was fear," he explained; "but we only had two hours to report, so fear had to take a backseat to organization: putting into a duffel bag everything I thought I would need" at the crash site.

Mutual support

"The soldiers were a source of support for me," he stated. While waiting in an armory for their orders, "we prayed a lot."

Initially, the chaplain's unit was placed on standby. Then the National Guard decided to send units down to the World Trade Center in rotation, and Father Diacetis was told to pack for a two-week stay in New York.

His duties will primarily involve ministering to soldiers, but he will also do grief counseling for rescuers and survivors, and celebrate Mass every day for the guardsmen. He also plans to make himself available for funeral services in the Archdiocese of New York.

Final prep

"I've tried to respond to people pastorally, but I must confess it's been difficult for me to concentrate on a specific, individual pastoral need and to be present to that person," he admitted. "I've been told I've been successful, but it's been difficult to give all of my attention to that person in need."

Part of his concern was knowing the devastation he would witness firsthand at the World Trade Center. "I've been on edge," he said. "I've got a bit of a nervous stomach and a headache; my emotions are translated into headaches."

Twin duties

"We have tremendous lay ministers," Father Diacetis added. "Life and ministry will go on here at the parish."

(On Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., Our Lady of Grace parish in Ballston Lake will hold a panel discussion on post-traumatic stress and stress management. Panelists include a former FBI stress management trainer and a psychologist. Call 399-5713.)

(09-27-01) [[In-content Ad]]