For one New York area priest, Father Mychal Judge, the Twin Towers attack made him a martyr. For two others, the experience of ministering to the survivors and caring for the dead remains an indelible memory that forever changed their lives and priesthoods.

NEW YORK - On the clear, sunny morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Father Kevin Madigan heard an explosion overhead.

He grabbed oils for anointing and ran out the door of St. Peter’s parish in New York City and wandered towards the center of the commotion - the World Trade Center only a block away.

Fifty blocks uptown, Father Christopher Keenan, OFM watched with the world as the smoke rising from the twin towers darkened the television screen. Looking to help, he went to St. Vincent’s Hospital downtown to tend to those wounded in the attack - but the victims never came.