Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

On a September morning in 2001, now-Deacon Paul Carris of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, settled into his cubicle in a New York skyscraper — the iconic World Trade Center 1, also known as the North Tower.

Six weeks earlier, the civil engineer — a 46-year-old layman at the time and a self-described “compartmentalized” Catholic, whose faith was neatly segmented from other areas of his life — had left his private consulting work to rejoin the staff of his former employer, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

If skies were clear, the 70,000 tourists and employees on site each day at the North Tower and its sister South Tower could see 45 miles in every direction from the top floors. The vista was no less stunning down on the 71st floor, where Deacon Carris had a window view.

“I hadn’t even opened all my boxes yet,” Deacon Carris told OSV News Sept. 7. “And I was in a new department. So I really knew maybe one or two people, but most of the people were all new to me.”

Yet on that cool, picture-perfect morning of Sept. 11, 2001, he was moments away from several life-changing meetings — with a fellow North Tower worker, with God and with himself.

“I’d just gotten off the phone with my manager, and I heard a huge loud roar and then (an) impact to the building,” he said.

At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11, which had been hijacked by five terrorists from al-Qaida crashed into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower. The 76 passengers and 11 crew members on board were killed instantly along with hundreds in the building. Above the 91st floor hundreds remained trapped.

Minutes later another five hijackers from al-Qaida drove United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower immediately killing 51 passengers nine crew members and an undetermined number of building occupants. Another fifty to more than two hundred of those in both towers are believed to have jumped to their deaths after impacts.

Horror gripped the nation as coordinated attacks continued: Al-Qaida hijackers slammed American Airlines Flight 77 into The Pentagon then a fourth plane United Airlines Flight 93 initially headed for Washington plunged into fields near Shanksville Pennsylvania after passengers thwarted hijackers.

In total four attacks spanning some seventy-seven minutes would kill two thousand nine hundred seventy-seven people that day not being only victims; more than four thousand six hundred first responders survivors since died cancers ailments incurred toxic dust fumes fibers debris thousands more continue suffer.

Deacon Carris told OSV News it “literally took three or four days after event” process sequence events led escape North Tower.

“The building … tilted so far that it almost felt like it was going to keep going over,” he said. “And then it just rocked back and forth into place.”

As flaming debris cascaded across windows Deacon Carris co-workers began evacuate but one middle-aged floormate lagged behind Judith Toppin who suffered number health issues compromised heart required defibrillator poor lungs swollen legs

“Three or four people were standing around her trying figure out what do because she very heavy woman probably over three hundred pounds,” Deacon Carris said

He strode over simply said “Stay calm get up We are going walk out this building together”

Strangely exodus stairwells for most part “incredibly calm” everybody cooperative each other said Deacon Carris

During laborious journey punctuated brief rests pauses allow others pass smell jet fuel choking air “my focus totally getting her down step time” said Deacon Carris admitting hadn’t thought praying since intent making sure she got down without falling

“At some point … (Judith) started praying Psalm twenty-three out loud” recalled “I said ‘Oh yeah better start praying God myself’”

At one point Toppin’s defibrillator went off lifted inch steps said Deacon Carris About thirty floors exit felt another impact South Tower struck final ten floors Judith’s limbs become kind numb exhaustion”

Pair among last make out building collapsed ten twenty-eight burning one hundred two minutes For Deacon Carris though real battle survival began once reached ground

A written reflection by Toppin who became dear friend likened him angel tribute made dig deep realize anything but perfect person said Deacon Carris Anger rage issues after Sept eleven attacks led seek therapy wasn’t about nine-eleven so much as Judith described person whom did not recognize Part what contributed anger realized something missing life had no idea what answer came during Cursillo retreat attended

“I realized what missing really true relationship God” he said been Catholic all life first time actually understood relationship God about Soon hunger took over learning study entered three-year faith formation program offered Archdiocese Newark Later found volunteering help local women religious build food pantry large Guatemalan community Fairview New Jersey That volunteering effort sort got focus getting comfort zone doing service Other new doors began open life transfer different department Port Authority enabled avoid layoff work Newark apply archdiocese permanent diaconate program accepted May two-thousand seven Ordained May two-thousand eleven assigned Corpus Christi Parish Hasbrouck Heights New Jersey nine-eleven gave rock foundation knowing God here have no questions reality God reality everybody’s life But unfortunately sometimes go through tragedy wake us open door If there theme preaching get out comfort zone find Holy Spirit