​San Antonio law enforcement agencies honored at Blue Mass at San Fernando Cathedral

San Antonio law enforcement agencies honored at Blue Mass at San Fernando Cathedral

Members of San Antonio’s various law enforcement agencies were honored at a special Mass at San Fernando Cathedral on September 29and people of all faith attended and joined in showing their gratitude to these dedicated heroes.

The liturgy featured representatives from the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, San Antonio Fire Department, constables and deputies, Bexar County Juvenile Probation and Texas Department of Public Safety. All in attendance received a special blessing from Father Carlos Velazquez, rector of San Fernando Cathedral; Father Johnson Le, chaplain with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department; Father John Mefrige, chaplain with the San Antonio Police Department; Father Jimmy Drennan, former SAPD officer and pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church; and Father Ruben Garcia and Father Artemio Ortiz-Rome, both associate pastors of the cathedral.

The Blue Mass, which included an Honor Guard and flag presentation, is a liturgy celebrated annually in the church for those employed in the field of public safety, which includes police officers, firefighters, corrections officers and paramedics.

In the United States, the Blue Mass tradition began in September 1934, when Father Thomas Dade of the Archdiocese of Baltimore formed the Catholic Police and Fireman’s Society. That year, the first Blue Mass was celebrated for police officers and firefighters. The name for the liturgy comes from the traditional uniform color associated with law enforcement.