Both men have put their efforts togethers so as to provide concrete help to families in distress in Chicago.

A man who has his word and a great heart, Mr. Mayor admires and encourages the Most Rev. Bishop Jean Marie R. Kozik in his activities of Fraternite Notre Dame serving the poorest of the poor in Austin, one of Chicago's neighborhoods; while posing quite willingly for some pictures taken with the Bishop and Mother Marie Faustine, Mr. Mayor evoked with emotion the story of his father, who had himself served as Mayor of Chicago for long years, and from whom he proudly preserves the very desk, in his Office, heavy with souvenirs.

In commemoration of the tragic events of the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001 in New York, the Most Rev. Bishop Jean Marie insisted that the Sisters Servants of Our Lady participate in the Ceremonies, since they had worked as voluteers there, last year. Early morning, groups from all 5 boroughs of NYC formed, and marched in prayer, towards the site.

Sister Marie Odile and Sister Marie Valerie were very moved when they reached the grounds: thousands of families, police officers, firemen and New York or other US officials had arrived. On all faces could be seen emotion, tears, distress at the thought of all these dear ones, who have been lost. After a moment of silence at the time of the attacks, a violent wind blew the dust from Ground Zero, former World Trade Center, and was to last all day, as if to point out that the souls of those departed were among us.

Then took place very touching speeches from NY State Governor G. Pataki, Hilary Clinton and Mr. Giuliani (former NYC's Mayor), who cited the 2,801 names of those who passed away. Next we moved on to pray at St Paul's Chapel, miraculously spared in the disaster, and which served as a welcome place for the workers for the past 9 months. There, we were very glad to meet again with a dear friend of ours, Dr. Gudeon, who volunteered his help to care for the feet of the Firemen, as a Specialist Doctor in this field. Finally, Mister President George W. Bush arrived, and showed his heartfelt sympathy and affection to all the families that have been deeply tried in the drama.

Later, NYC's Mayor Mr. Bloomberg inaugurated a monument in Battery Park, memorial for Peace of the Poles, and he lighted a flame in the presence of UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Hannan and Afganistan's Representative, Mr. Hamid Karzai. The Sisters Servants of Our Lady attended the ceremonies with a deep emotion, because they defend moral and spiritual values, which the United States of America represent.

Sister Marie Odile & Sister Marie Valérie + snd.

On September 11, 2002, Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley had asked that all clergy in Chicago organize a moment of prayer in memory of the tragedy of which we celebrate the sad anniversary.
Thus, in our church of Our Lady of Frechou , the Most Rev. Bishop Jean Marie R. Kozik had a Holy Mass celebrated at noon, for the rest of the victims' souls. Furthermore, Fraternite Notre Dame's members also participated in an ecumenical service at Loretto Hospital. Over a hundred people attended, in the auditorium. Reverend Gordon, President of Loretto's Pastoral Care, acted as master of ceremony and addressed an appeal not to forget what happened. One of Fraternite Notre Dame's Sisters read litany prayers, to which all responded, asking God to grant us the gift of His peace. Reverend Robinson and Reverend Spencer gave a short sermon and the ceremony was ended by singing a moving "Amazing Grace". A touching ceremony when the faith of the whole American people could be felt, truly alive.

As every year, the Most Rev. Bishop Jean Marie R. Kozik sent us to the DPI/NGO Conference at the United Nations in New York; this year's agenda is as follows:
"Rebuilding societies after conflict, a shared responsibility".
During the Conference of NGO's groupings, Fraternite Notre Dame was chosen in collaboration with 2 other NGOs: the World Assembly of Young Muslims, with Mr. Fadel Soliman, and the International Association of Armenian Women, with Mrs. Siroon Shahinian and two medical doctors who had served in some Kosovo hospitals, as midwives.

After Mr. Soliman's introduction, the whole room was very attentive to a very touching text, written by the Most Reverend Bishop Jean Marie himself, and the pictures on countries in conflict where Fraternite Notre Dame went: Rwanda, Albania, Kosovo, El Salvador, and more especially, Kosovo. With our Muslim and Armenian friends, we have shown the psychological, medical and social aid that each one provided, and how such help contributed to heal such a deep material and spiritual misery.

A big 'thank you' to our Muslim and Armenian friends for this warm debate, which showed that Love and Forgiveness, in respect for different beliefs, always triumph over such terrible conflicts.

Sister Marie Odile & Sister Marie Valérie + snd.