Cardinal Wuerl Honors First Responders at Blue Mass

Event Kicks Off National Police Week

May 02, 2013

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at a Mass to remember the contributions of those who have served in law enforcement and public safety agencies and to ask for continued protection for their colleagues in the future. Priests of the archdiocese will gather with units from federal, state, and local jurisdictions in formation to pass under a huge American flag hung over between two fire ladder trucks as they process into St. Patrick Church for the 19th annual Blue Mass. The entrance procession also will include pipe and drum corps units.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Procession: Noon at 10th and G Streets
Mass: 12:10 p.m.
St. Patrick’s in the City
619 10th Street, NW
Washington, DC

Held each year at the beginning of National Police Week, the Blue Mass is held to pray for those in law enforcement and fire safety, remember those who have fallen, and support those who serve. Representatives of federal and local law enforcement and public safety agencies from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and around the country are expected to attend. People of all faiths are welcome.

The Mass includes an honor guard, bagpipers, and the solemn playing of “Taps” in memory of those who gave their lives in the past year.

The Blue Mass is a tradition that began in 1934, but was not regularly observed until 1994 when it was revived to honor and pray for the men and women who protect our city and nation. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, there are more than 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers now serving in the United States. A total of 1,539 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years. This year to date, there have been 37 officer fatalities in the U.S.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 620,000 Catholics living in Washington, DC, and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

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