Annual Triumph of the Cross Remembers Christ’s Sacrifice 25 Years after 9/11

Article by Maggie Haran ’27

Nearly 3,000 people were in attendance for the annual celebration of Triumph of the Cross, on September 9, 2026, which poignantly observed the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Among the student attendees, educators, and alumni were also survivors of the attack from the Kellenberg Memorial family.

*Fr. Dan blesses survivors and loved ones of the September 11 tragedy.*

Fr. Thomas Cardone, the celebrant, used his homily to parallel 9/11 in the context of the Triumph of the Cross. Placed in the context of the Triumph Prayer Service, the suffering of that tragic day has a place in Christ’s sacrifice and love.

Senior Eden Dopwell ‘27 said, “I thought the homily was very moving, because it illustrated how all different generations were affected by 9/11, and how it still affects us today.”

Fr. Tom spoke about three prominent faculty members whose lives were altered from the day the World Trade Center turned to rubble, including Fr. Daniel Griffin, Assistant Principal for Mission and Marianist Identity, who was a senior at Kellenberg on September 11, the day he found out that his uncle didn’t make it from the tragedy. In addition, Mr. Powers, a current teacher at Kellenberg, shared the story of his heroic father who braved the scene as a first responder and passed away two years ago from 9/11 related illnesses. Finally, Fr. Tom recalled Mr. McCutcheon, High School Dean of Students, who worked at the WTC at the time and helped save a woman while exiting the chaos, carrying her down more than 50 floors.

*Bishop Cardone, of the Solomon Islands, blesses the Cross to start the annual service.*

After the prayer service, the school chaplain said, “The challenge was to get an audience of 3,000 people, many of whom were not born yet in 2001, to connect to the tragedies of that day.”

A special guest at this year’s Triumph was Fr. Tom’s brother, Bishop Christopher Cardone, visiting from his Archdiocese of the Solomon Islands. Bishop Chris is a frequent favorite guest at KMHS. His presence served as a reminder of both the familial and universal impacts of 9/11 and Christ’s triumph.

Students and faculty from Uniondale’s St. Martin de Porres Marianist School were also in attendance.

Following the prayer service, students and guests enjoyed muffins, fruit punch, and some time to socialize before returning to class.