A Catholic “Blue Mass” To honor, pray for, and bless all Policemen and women, Firefighters, and EMS Responders.
All those in attendance will be given a special blessing towards the end of Mass. You are encouraged to wear your uniforms.
When: Saturday, September 30th at 5:15PM
Where: St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave, Hershey, PA 17033
The “Blue Mass” is a tradition where the Police, Fire and EMS Responder personnel gather for a special celebration and blessing for their work on behalf of the community.
History of the “Blue Mass:” In 1934, a Catholic Priest by the name of Thomas Dade from Baltimore initiated the Catholic Police and Firemen’s Society while stationed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. About 1,100 police and firemen dressed in blue uniforms marched into St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for the celebration of the first “Blue Mass” on September 29, 1934. Since then, the “Blue Mass” has become a tradition in which the local community gathers to celebrate and thank those who serve their community as policemen and women, firefighters, and EMS responders as well as to offer prayers to God for their continued protection.
At St. Joan of Arc, we celebrate the “Blue Mass” on the Sunday closest to both the Feast of the Archangels and of our Guardian Angels. According to our long-held faith, the angels possess a great power to protect and defend those in danger as well as to heal and console those in difficulty. Thus, for us it is most appropriate to recognize, honor, and bless those policemen and women, firefighters, and EMS responders in conjunction with the Church’s celebration of the Archangels and Guardian Angels.
All those in attendance will be given a special blessing towards the end of Mass. You are encouraged to wear your uniforms.
When: Saturday, September 30th at 5:15PM
Where: St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave, Hershey, PA 17033
The “Blue Mass” is a tradition where the Police, Fire and EMS Responder personnel gather for a special celebration and blessing for their work on behalf of the community.
History of the “Blue Mass:” In 1934, a Catholic Priest by the name of Thomas Dade from Baltimore initiated the Catholic Police and Firemen’s Society while stationed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. About 1,100 police and firemen dressed in blue uniforms marched into St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for the celebration of the first “Blue Mass” on September 29, 1934. Since then, the “Blue Mass” has become a tradition in which the local community gathers to celebrate and thank those who serve their community as policemen and women, firefighters, and EMS responders as well as to offer prayers to God for their continued protection.
At St. Joan of Arc, we celebrate the “Blue Mass” on the Sunday closest to both the Feast of the Archangels and of our Guardian Angels. According to our long-held faith, the angels possess a great power to protect and defend those in danger as well as to heal and console those in difficulty. Thus, for us it is most appropriate to recognize, honor, and bless those policemen and women, firefighters, and EMS responders in conjunction with the Church’s celebration of the Archangels and Guardian Angels.