Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., Congressional Gold Medal Act

Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., beloved Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York passed away as the first recorded victim of the September 11, 2001, attacks after courageously rushing to the World Trade Center to support, console, and administer last rites to the victims of the attacks.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Judge was born on May 11, 1933, to Irish Catholic immigrants from County Leitrim.

After his father died of a long illness when Judge was 6 years old, Judge took odd jobs and shined shoes at Penn Station to help support his mother and 2 sisters.

Responding to his strong spiritual calling, Judge entered the Franciscans in 1954.

He trained at 4 seminaries in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia and was ordained a Priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in 1961.

From 1961 to 1986, Father Judge served at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boston, Massachusetts, St. Joseph’s in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, Siena College in Loudonville, New York, and as pastor at St. Joseph’s in West Milford, New Jersey.

In 1986, Father Judge was assigned to the Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street, New York, where he served until his death in 2001.

Known for his tremendous capacity for compassion, Judge was beloved by the firefighters and by the city he served.

Judge would daily send notes or make telephone calls to recognize birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant dates in the lives of the people he knew.

In 1994, Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., was named as one of the chaplains for the New York Fire Department serving the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Father Judge was also well known for ministering to the poor and needy among us, including the homeless, immigrants, recovering alcoholics, gays and lesbians, and people with AIDS.

Father Mychal Judge’s funeral was held on September 15, 2001.

Cardinal Edward Egan presided over a Mass of 3,000 people, including city officials, President Bill Clinton, and Senator Hillary Clinton, who called Judge a “bearer of light” and noted his death as a special loss.

Presentation Authorized— The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the next of kin or personal representative of Father Mychal Judge, O.F.M., in recognition of his example to the Nation of selfless dedication to duty and compassion for one’s fellow citizens.

Design and Striking— For the purpose of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.

Authorization of Charges— There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized by this Act.

Proceeds of Sale— Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.