Chairman of the Blue Mass Committee KC –11663, Sacred Heart, Mathis, Jesse Q. Garcia (at right) is pictured with some of the attendees who were honored at the 11th Annual Blue Mass. The were from left: Fire Chief Henry Barajas from the Sandia Volunteer Fire Department; Capt. Craig Johnston from the US Border Patrol in Sandia; Robert Gonzales Guardian EMS; and Lt. Joe Luis Guerra from the Robstown Police Department.

Public safety employees from throughout the Dioceses of Corpus Christi were recognized for service to their communities and parishes at the 11th Annual Blue Mass and Awards Dinner on Sept. 22 at Sacred Heart Parish in Mathis. The parish, along with the Knights of Columbus Council 1163, hosted the celebration honoring law enforcement and correctional officers, 911 dispatchers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMS) personnel.

History of the Blue Mass The Blue Mass dates back to 1934 when a Catholic Priest named Thomas Dade from the Maryland Archdiocese initiated the Catholic Police & Firemen's Society in Washington, D.C. About 1,100 police & firemen dressed in significant blue uniforms marched into St. Patrick's Catholic Church for the First Blue Mass on September 29th, 1934. Father Jose Salazar and Father Maurice Shepherd SOLT - Police Chaplin for the City of Robstown - Police Department celebrated the first Blue Mass held at Sacred Heart in September 2001. Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmondy has been an avid supporter of the Blue Mass and has celebrated it on numerous occasions. St. Michael the Archangel is the Patron Saint of those employed in the “public safety field”, as Law Enforcement Officers, Correctional Officers, 911 Dispatchers, Firefighters, and EMS Personnel.  The Blue Mass also pays homage to those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody concelebrated Mass with Father James Puthenparambil, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. Two of the honorees did the scripture readings; Mathis EMT Rachel Santos, a parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Alice and Deputy David Garcia of the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, a parishioner of Corpus Christi Cathedral.

The Blue Mass honors St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of those in the public safety field and pays tribute to those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

The public safety employees recognized for their service to their communities and parishes included Alma V. Moreno from the Swinney Switch Volunteer Fire Department; Deputy Garcia; Lt. Joe Luis Guerra from the Robstown Police Department (St. Peter, Prince of the Apostle Parish in Corpus Christi); Chief Deputy Ray Ramon of the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office (St. Pius X in Sandia); retired Deputy Shorty Franco, Sgt. Ruben Rodriguez and Valde Ramirez from the San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office; Captain Rick Hernandez from the Aransas Pass Police Department; Chief Larry Whittington from the Mathis Police Department; Fire Chief Henry Barajas from the Sandia Volunteer Fire Department; Capt. Craig Johnston from the US Border Patrol (St. Pius X in Sandia); Robert Gonzales with Guardian EMS (St. Elizabeth in Alice); and Lt. Joe Luis Guerra from Robstown Police Department (St. Peter Prince the Apostle in Corpus Christi).

Also, recognized were Mr. and Mrs. Omar Medina, Elma V. Requenez, Brianna Pearl Requenez-Garcia, Angie Valdez and JoAnn Galvan Flores from the San Patricio County Commissioner Pct. 3, and Lillian Gutierrez of the 117th District Court, Nueces County (St. Anthony Parish in Robstown).