Contact: Roger Conner, Senior Director, Communications, Catholic Charities USA, 703-236-6218, Rconner@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA, issued the following statement on Thursday:

"This September 11th marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most devastating events in American history.  The horrors of 9/11 will live forever in the memories of a generation and in the annals of history.  And they certainly reside in the hearts and minds of Catholic Charities, and our people and agencies who responded so directly in New York and Washington.

"The grief that filled our hearts that day and in the weeks that followed transformed us.  We became a nation united; united in our commitment to seek justice and care for the families of all of the victims, and in our resolve to rebuild in a way that would be greater than ever before.

"We will relive the events of 9/11 once again, as we have done for the previous nine years. This year, we will commemorate with a memorial that rises out of the ashes and pit of destruction of ten years ago.  But I urge us not to stop there. I can think of no greater way to honor the thousands who lost their lives in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania than to reclaim our unity as a nation. Let not their unwilling sacrifice be in vain. As we rebuild America let us once again rush in, as a nation of peace and justice, to create a better country that is dedicated to the common good. We can. We will. We must."

Catholic Charities USA, in conjunction with Catholic Charities New York, has gathered resources from across the country to create a commemorative website, which honors the 10th anniversary of September 11th, providing a virtual platform for collective information and story sharing.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary.