Following the devastating plane crash in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night, Father Frederick Edlefsen, the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Arlington, Virginia, felt called to be with the families affected by the tragedy.

The crash, which involved a passenger plane colliding with a U.S.

Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport, sent shockwaves through the community.

Feeling the Call to Serve

It was late in the evening when Father Edlefsen, preparing to retire for the night, checked his phone and saw the heartbreaking news.

The crash had occurred near the Potomac River, just a mile away from his parish—making it all the more personal for him.

“I felt it was really my duty.

I felt an impulse—call it the gifts of the Holy Spirit or a guardian angel,” he said during an interview with Colm Flynn on EWTN News Nightly.

Father Edlefsen explained that many members of his parish work at or travel through Reagan National Airport, so he felt a deep responsibility to be there for them.

Reaching Out to the Families and First Responders

Recognizing the emotional weight of the situation, Father Edlefsen didn’t hesitate to act.

He reached out to a parishioner, a Knight of Columbus with a law enforcement background, who helped him navigate the chaotic situation.

Together, they made their way to the airport, where they joined the grieving families in the American Airlines Admirals Lounge.

“We were able to be present, not only to the grieving families but also to the personnel who, when they went to work this morning, didn’t know this was going to hit them,” Father Edlefsen shared.

His presence offered a small but meaningful source of comfort to those caught in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

A Community United in Grief

Father Edlefsen’s decision to step into this heartbreaking moment reflects the deep connections within his parish and his unwavering commitment to serve those in need.

In the face of a tragedy that affected so many, his role as a spiritual leader became an anchor for both the families and the airport staff who found themselves thrust into an unimaginable situation.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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