Mychal's Message

This letter resurfaced today while going through some files. It is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. Thanks to your donations, we provided dinner and Christmas gifts for this woman and her children at Christmas time.

This is an extraordinary event. We are certain you’ll be moved. Rick Novak’s Stations of Mychal puts our beloved Fr. Mychal’s story to music. And, the visual experience is astounding.

E X C I T I N G N E W S

With the release of the new children’s book, He is Here! The Life of Saint Carlo Acutis, Mychal’s Message is pleased to present a brand new project as the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 approaches.

Before announcing the project (below), let us first share this:

Saint Carlo’s mother, Antonia, has recounted that before the September 11 attacks, Carlo told her about a troubling dream involving airplanes and buildings. After the events of 9/11 unfolded, the dream took on a striking significance for the family.

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HE IS HERE

From the Eucharist to the Street

An Ongoing Project of Mychal’s Message Inspired by Saint Carlo Acutis and Father Mychal Judge, OFM
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40

HE IS HERE is a new project that will build a bridge between two remarkable witnesses of faith: Saint Carlo Acutis and Father Mychal Judge, OFM. For ten years (1991–2001), they walked this earth at the same time, though their paths never crossed.

Carlo showed us how to find Jesus in the Eucharist. Father Mychal showed us how to carry that love into the streets, serving the poor, homeless, sick, and forgotten. Their lives meet in a beautiful truth: when we encounter Jesus, we are called to carry His love to others.

The project begins by sharing Carlo’s message, just as Mychal’s Message has shared Father Mychal’s life, prayer, and example for more than two decades. Through Saint Carlo prayer cards and outreach to Catholic schools, parishes, and families, we will help spread Carlo’s great message that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

Then we will live that message.

Carlo had a special concern for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. In Milan, he used his own money to help those in need and brought food—including soup—to homeless men and women living under a bridge. His love for Jesus in the Eucharist taught him to recognize the dignity of every person he encountered.

Father Mychal lived that same Gospel of love on the streets of New York City. A Franciscan priest and chaplain to the New York City Fire Department, Father Mychal had a particular love for people who were poor, homeless, sick, grieving, or forgotten. On September 11, 2001, he ran toward those who were suffering, ultimately giving his life while ministering at the World Trade Center.

Both of their lives remind us that an encounter with Jesus should change the way we encounter one another.

Inspired by their example, HE IS HERE will focus especially on feeding the hungry.

Throughout the year, Mychal’s Message will organize food collections to fill the shelves of local food pantries. We will also host a special HE IS HERE Soup Event at a local soup kitchen, remembering Carlo’s own simple act of bringing food to those who were hungry.

Schools, parishes, families, and individuals will be invited to participate through Saint Carlo prayer-card distributions, food collections, Eucharistic Adoration, and hands-on service.

This is the bridge between Carlo and Father Mychal—and the heart of HE IS HERE.

We encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.
We recognize Him in one another.
We carry His love into the streets.

All donations designated for “HE IS HERE” will be used to help share Saint Carlo Acutis’s message of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and to provide food for those experiencing homelessness and poverty.

The new children’s book, He Is Here: The Life of Saint Carlo Acutis, written by Kelly Ann Lynch and illustrated by M. Scott Oatman, is available for purchase NOW through Amazon, Paulist Press, or through the Mychal’s Message website (coming soon), where a portion of the proceeds from each book sold will benefit the work of Mychal’s Message.

Will we see you at this year’s Walk?

In one week we will gather at Saint Francis Of Assisi Church in NYC. We will pray the Rosary at 0900. At 0930 we will start the 911 Walk of Remembrance from the Quarters of E1,L24. Fr. Mychal Judge as Fire Chaplain responded to the WTC from this FireHouse. Please join us.
We will walk the route he took on that fateful day. We make stops along the way to Honor members of The FDNY, NYPD and PAPD who made the ultimate sacrifice. No registration or fee for this 911 Walk.
All are welcome.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Mychal’s Message Marks 25th Annual “Blessed Bloomers” Distribution with Tribute to Ground Zero Heroes

New socks and underwear will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness in New York City on Sunday, September 6, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks

LANCASTER, Pa. — Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Mychal’s Message will return to the streets of New York City to honor the legacy of beloved FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, OFM, and the countless heroes who served at Ground Zero in the hours, days, weeks, and months that followed.

On Sunday, September 6, 2026, Mychal’s Message will hold its 25th annual Blessed Bloomers distribution, providing new socks and underwear to people experiencing homelessness and poverty on the bread line at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.

This year’s collection and distribution is dedicated to all those who served at Ground Zero—firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, construction workers, volunteers, clergy, and countless others who responded with extraordinary courage and compassion. Many later developed cancers and other illnesses associated with their service, and some have since died.

As the nation observes the 25th anniversary of September 11, Mychal’s Message hopes to commemorate their sacrifice not only by remembering what they did, but by continuing the spirit of service they demonstrated.

The location carries special significance. St. Francis of Assisi Church was the Franciscan home where Father Mychal Judge lived and served. Father Mychal, an FDNY chaplain, was killed while ministering to others at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and is remembered as the first officially recorded victim of the attacks.

For 25 years, the Blessed Bloomers project has collected and distributed something shelters and outreach organizations consistently need: new socks and underwear. These simple necessities offer warmth, comfort and dignity to people who too often go without them.

The project reflects the mission that inspired the founding of Mychal’s Message following Father Mychal’s death: to continue his compassion for people who are poor, homeless, hungry or forgotten.

This year, every pair of socks and every piece of new underwear distributed will carry a message beyond the gift itself—a message that 25 years later, we still remember. We remember Father Mychal. We remember those who ran toward danger when others were running away. We remember those who spent days and weeks searching, digging, serving and comforting at Ground Zero. We remember those who became sick because of their service and those who ultimately gave their lives because they answered the call to help. And in their honor, we will serve.

How to Help:

Mychal’s Message is currently accepting donations to purchase new socks and underwear for the September 6 distribution.

Tax-deductible donations may be made through the Mychal’s Message website (www.mychalsmessage.org) or mailed to:

Mychal’s Message
P.O. Box 6404
Lancaster, PA 17607

Through a simple gift of socks and underwear, Mychal’s Message hopes to offer dignity to someone in need while paying tribute to a generation of heroes whose courage and sacrifice must never be forgotten.

Twenty-five years later, we remember. Twenty-five years later, we serve.

What’s new with Mychal’s Message?

Thanks to your donations, we are still meeting the needs of the homeless and poor. Below is a list of items recently donated.

Q-tips 1 pack of 500*
Toothbrushes 468*
Wet wipes 450
Toothpaste 114*
Chapstick 108*
Body lotion 95*
Deodorant 80*
Hats 73
Soap/body wash 48
Shampoo/conditioner 43*
Body lotion 33
Soap/body wash 32*
Toothpaste 29
Deodorant 24
Toothbrushes 23
Shavers 22
Shaving cream 22
Blankets 18
Packages of wipes 17*
Chapstick 13
Gloves 12
Shampoo/conditioner 11
Women’s coats 8
Wet wipes 6*
Sanitizers 4
Mouthwash 2*
Floss 2*

*Items donated by students at St. Leo the Great School in Lancaster, PA

BLESSED BLOOMERS (2025):
Men’s Underwear 213 packs (each containing 2 underwear, 1 T-shirt, 2 pair socks, 2 candies and a prayer card)
(Totals: 426 underwear, 426 pair of socks, 213 T-shirts, 426 candies, 213 prayer cards)

WISH (2025):
25 meals (with all the fixings to prepare Christmas dinner including a turkey, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, green beans, potatoes, onions, carrots, pie crusts, butter, pumpkin, and whip cream)
350 Christmas gifts (toys, clothing and shoes) for nearly 100 children.

THE CARLO EFFECT (a new project):
4 baby strollers

THE KENYA PROJECT:
School books and uniforms provided to children.

THE PHILIPPINES PROJECT:
Medicine, food, and clothing provided to families.