In the past few weeks we have heard news in the Jacob Wetterling disappearance that happened so close to Clearwater in St Joseph, 27 years ago.  The news being that remains were located.  There will not be any happy reunions or joy filled embraces.  As I looked out over the congregation last weekend, I thought to myself how many there were not even born when Jacob was abducted.  I, myself was only a few years out of high school.

It has always been easy to think, “That kind of stuff does not happen here.”  Being here in Clearwater now, I can feel how close it is.  I can only imagine what it must have been like to be here 27 years ago.  Parents, hug your children a little tighter today, kiss them when you put them to bed.  Our children are a gift given by God, we must care for that gift, watch out for that gift, keep that gift safe. There are those who have hurt that gift, yes even a small group of priests.  We must take care to watch out over the gift that God has given.  Jesus says, “Let the children come to me.”  May the good LORD watch over our children and keep them safe.

The Jacob Wetterling case changed laws, that is something that Jacob gave to us.  Let’s remember him for the affect he has had on so many, how many lives have been saved since. Only God knows the answer to that.  Please keep praying for Jacob and his family, and the St Joseph community, our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends.

Today also reminds us of another tragedy that happened in our country.  911, the attack of the World Trade Center towers.  I learned in my Psychology class that this is called a “Flash Bulb Memory” , some event that is burned into your memory.  It used to be that people would ask, “Where were you when you heard John F Kennedy was shot?” and everyone had a story. 911 is one of those events.

I was in minor seminary standing at my dorm room door, talking with the priest that lived on our floor.  One of the guys at the end of the hall came down the hall to go into the lounge, (where the TV was).  He told us, “I plane flew into the World Trade Center.”  I remember thinking to myself that it was a small single engine plane and was only an accident.  When I entered the lounge I saw that black smoke coming out of the tower.  Deep inside, something said this is something more. Something much worse.  That fear was confirmed when the second plane came into the camera view.

These two events, Jacob and 911, are horrible in the history of our local area and our country.  But we must not allow ourselves to forget.  It can be like forgetting that the Holocaust ever happened.  What is it they say, “If you forget history, you are bound to repeat it.”

Take a moment today to pray.  To pray for all of those affected by these two events.  That would be all of us.  Offer a special prayer for the Wetterling family and the town of St Joseph.  All of those who lost their lives on 911, and Jacob Wetterling… You are not forgotten.  You must be remembered.  Because we cannot allow this to ever happen again.

Father Backer