Blue Mass

Olean Catholic Community to Celebrate Blue Mass for First Responders   Olean (NY)— The Olean Catholic Community will celebrate a “Blue Mass” at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels on Sunday, September 10, 2017. This 11:30AM Mass is an opportunity for the community to honor local EMS, fire and law enforcement personnel of all faiths who live and work in the region.  Chaplains for both the Olean Fire Fighters and Olean Police welcome area first responders, paid and volunteer staff, families and friends, to attend this special Mass to honor and thank these men and women for their service to the common good and pray for their continued safety. Presiders at the Mass will be Rev. Gregory Dobson, VF,  Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels who is the Olean Police Chaplain and Father Patrick Melfi, Pastor of St. John’s Church who is the Olean Fire Fighters’ Chaplain. They will bestow blessings upon all first responders who contribute to public health and safety in the region. Historically, the Blue Mass was a tradition started in the Catholic Church in 1934 in Washington, D.C. when about 1,100 police and firemen dressed in uniform marched into St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for the celebration of the first Blue Mass that September. Blue signifies the traditional color of the uniforms of first responders. Since then, across the United States, the Blue Mass has been held as a way to thank first responders who serve the community and to ask God for their continued protection. A Blue Mass is now commonly celebrated annually on or near September 11. First responders are invited to attend with their families and to wear their uniform or other insignia. “This year’s event is especially significant as an expression of gratitude for the security efforts undertaken by local law enforcement personnel to assure the safety of our guests for the Basilica Solemnization Mass in June,” said Father Dobson. “They did an outstanding job for that historic event here in Olean, and we are appreciative of their level of professionalism and inter-agency cooperation in planing and executing the security plan,” he said.    CATHOLIC MASS: Procession; Scripture readings, hymns, Psalms, sermon (homily) by the Olean Police Chaplain, Blessing over First Responders; Liturgy of the Eucharist (note: Holy Communion guidelines for Catholics is in the front cover of the Missal); prayer for First Responders; Recession with traditional bagpipes. PARKING: Behind old YMCA; behind red brick building next to the basilica; along the streets. More information on attending Mass at the basilica (bathrooms, seating etc.) can be found at this link: http://smaolean.org/fas-for-visitors