SHANNON—Following the World Trade Center Twin Towers tragedy of 2001, Shannon resident Laverne Keppen suggested holding a Blue Mass to honor the men and women who died on Sept. 11 that year.
Since that time, St. Wendelin Parish and the Shannon Fire Department have staged the event honoring first responders.
“The Roman Catholic Church has a tradition of praying for, blessing and invoking the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit at special Masses for those who are involved in vital public services,” said Father Michael Bolger, pastor, who celebrated this year’s Blue Mass. “I agreed with Laverne, and we decided to hold a Blue Mass. This is a day of remembrance, and a way to say thank you.”
The history of the Blue Mass dates to 1934, when a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, organized the Catholic Police and Firemen’s Society while stationed at St. Patrick Church in Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 police and firemen appeared at the church dressed in their blue uniforms for that first Blue Mass.
In 2002, fewer than a dozen people attended the first Blue Mass in Shannon, but the event has grown steadily over the years. This year nearly 300 attended the ceremonies which outgrew St. Wendelin Church some years ago and now are held in the town’s fire station.
“I believe it is important to continue honoring our first responders,” said Father Bolger. “I’m willing to do it as long as the people here are willing to do it, because I see all the negative stuff with the police officers (and) people forget how important they are until you need them, and then you dial 911.”
The priest added that, while it is a natural inclination to run from danger, first responders run toward it.
“There is enough negative in our society, and we need to be positive about the things that matter, and recognizing these men and women who live to serve is one of them,” he said. “And, this young generation we see here today are the very people who will choose these jobs some day. They are our next wave of fire fighters and police officers, and if they do not (do these jobs) then you will have the military do it, and we will become like those repressive countries where the army is the police and the fire department, and that is not what America is about by any means.”
“Everybody recognizes the importance of acknowledging our first responders, and we keep updating the ceremonies every year so it remains impressive,” said Knights of Columbus Blue Mass chairman, Bill Spoerlein.
He said this year in particular brought new and younger faces to the event.
Participants included Stephen Reifsteck, one of the dozens of young men and women representing eight troops of Boy and Girl Scouts that participated in Shannon’s Blue Mass ceremonies.
“It is important for us to honor those who serve and especially those who have fallen protecting us,” Reifsteck said.
District Fire Chief Jim Klinefelter said the men and women of today’s fire service are confronted with a more dangerous work environment than ever before.
“We are forced continually to change our tactics to accomplish our tasks,” said Chief Klinefelter. “Our methods may change, but our goals remain the same as they were in the past. Sometimes (our goals come) at a terrible cost, but this is what we do. This is our choice of profession, and this is the tradition of the firefighter.”