Today public safety and law enforcement officers from the Washington, DC metropolitan area converged at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, to honor and pray for law enforcement and fire safety officers killed in the line of duty and those currently serving today.
As representatives from Federal and local law enforcement and public safety agencies entered the church, they were flanked by honor guards and pipe and drum units.
Blue Mass began in 1934, when police officers gathered to pray for their fallen comrades and seek God’s blessing for their own safety. The tradition stopped in the mid-1970s but has since resumed in grander fashion than ever. The name “Blue Mass” comes from the traditional color of many officers’ uniforms.
The principal celebrant and homilist for the Blue Mass was His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl.
Next up: Police Unity Tour Kick-off Ceremonies happening in New Jersey and Virginia. For more information about National Police Week 2012, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.