Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

RIVERSIDE—To honor the bravery and service of fire fighters, police and emergency personnel, Msgr. Thomas Powers, vicar general, celebrated the diocesan Blue Mass on Sunday morning at The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes in Riverside. Now in its 19^th year, the annual Mass coincides with the country’s commemoration of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Members of local law enforcement departments, along with the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, joined Msgr. Powers and concelebrant Father William Platt, pastor of the Riverside church, in a solemn procession as parishioners gathered for the 10:30 am service. “We honor fire fighters, first responders and police here today. I admire you all,” said Msgr. Powers, who paid special tribute to Dan Warzoha, Greenwich’s emergency management director and former fire chief, who died in August.

In his homily, Msgr. Powers referenced the reading from the Gospel of Mark, reminding the congregation to rely on God “with childlike trust and humility, for His plan for us is better than anything we could do on our own. We leave it all in God’s hands.”

“The men and women we honor today understand what childlike trust is. We place our trust in your hands,” he continued, nodding toward the police, fire fighters and EMTs from 12 communities in the diocese who were sitting in the front pews. “Everyone calls you when we are helpless and in danger. We seek your protection, and we are in awe of how you handle your duties, especially over the last 18 months in this pandemic and as our society has faced challenges we never have before. You remind us of how we are to live as Christians, and we thank you.”

After the emergency personnel stood to be recognized and received a lengthy round of applause from the parishioners, Msgr. Powers then asked their family members to stand as a gesture of gratitude to them as well.

Father Platt also addressed the men and women in uniform, saying, “These are the models of service who must serve for the good of all. My dear brothers and sisters, you are the greatest.”

In a moving tribute to conclude the Mass, the Honor Guard presented the colors and a trumpeter played “Taps” before the recessional hymn of “America the Beautiful.”

Because the diocesan Blue Mass originated to honor lives lost on 9/11, flags with the names of those who perished that day were draped over an emergency vehicle outside the church for parishioners to view as they gathered in the bright sunshine of a morning so similar to that September day 20 years ago. Father Platt, who was chaplain at Greenwich Hospital in 2001, said he remembered seeing the smoke of lower Manhattan from the hospital’s roof.

“It means a great deal to be able to honor all first responders at Mass this year,” he said. “We remember the sacrifice of every person and thank them for their service.”

James Heavey, chief of police in Greenwich, helped coordinate this event along with Fire Chief Joseph McHugh and members of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes parish. Reflecting on the Mass and the duties he embraces, Heavey said, “It’s the right calling to serve others. It’s empowering to be a person of faith and of service.”

Report by Emily Clark

Photos by Amy Mortensen