Blue Mass, 2008

Tomorrow, April 15, the Diocese of Trenton will celebrate the annual "Blue Mass" to honor those in the many forms of law enforcement throughout our diocese and state.

This celebration is an annual way of saying "thank you" to the men and women of law enforcement from our area, and to pray for those who have fallen, and also to support their families and friends who mourn their loss.

The mass, with Bishop Smith presiding and preaching, is a way to join together in prayer in our Cathedral Church. As you may know, I'll be one of the MC's for the Mass. ("MC" is shorthand for "Master of Ceremonies") In reality, I'll be taking the role of one of the main "altar-boys".....helping to make the Bishop look like he knows what he's doing, helping the priests and the old Monsignors to go where they're supposed to be, and overall, helping to organize the whole event.

I've often said that the job of MC's is not to pray, but to make everyone else look good! A good MC should be practically invisible to the congregation, but is definitely in charge of helping the celebration to look smooth. It's much like the job of a good cop!

Let's pray that happens tomorrow!

Truth be told, this is one of my favorite events at the Cathedral each year. For me, it's such a simple, yet profound way that we Catholics can gather with the men and women who serve and protect us each day, and then to pray with them, and then to honor them and their service with our highest form of prayer...the Mass. Together, with the Lord's Self Sacrifice, we give thanks and praise for those who serve us and protect us.