Story & Photo Credit: The Rhode Island Catholic: Laura Kilgus, Assistant Editor
On Sunday, Sept. 18, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin will celebrate the inaugural Blue Mass at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence (RI).. This moving Mass dedicated to the men and women in ‘blue’ will be an opportunity for the community to offer their support and prayers for those who continue to put their lives on the line.
Chief of Police for the City of Providence Colonel Hugh Clements Jr., said that this Blue Mass could not have come at a better time. Col. Clements explained that as police officers are being vilified across the country, and with recent police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge as well as officer-involved shootings in San Jose, the Blue Mass is an opportunity to bring the community together on a local level — and to pray for protection and peace in the nation.
“When something happens in San Jose, we feel it here in Rhode Island,” Col. Clements said. “There have been horrific events in the last few months and we have seen and heard the tremendous support in our community. We know that certainly comes from the diocese and within the faith-based community. We know we have a lot of support in the community.”
For many years, local law enforcement have always been invited to the annual Red Mass, a time to pray for local judges, attorneys and government officials, but beginning next week, local police officers will have their own yearly spiritual celebration.
