Rob Cannon, a retired battalion chief from the Charlotte Fire Department and currently a captain with the Davidson Fire Department, read the First Reading at a "Blue Mass" Sept. 28 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.HUNTERSVILLE — Charlotte residents Matt and Chris Bixler share three important bonds – they are brothers, Catholics and they are both firefighters.
On Sept. 28, the brothers stood dressed in their dark blue uniforms inside their parish church, St. Mark in Huntersville, to participate in a special Mass to honor first responders.
Near them, fellow firefighter and parishioner Rob Cannon also stood in uniform.
The liturgy, known as a “Blue Mass,” dates back to 1934 and provides spiritual support for those on the front lines of public safety, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other first responders. The name comes from the traditional uniform color of police officers and firefighters. Each year, the Blue Mass is celebrated in hundreds of parishes nationwide.
The Blue Mass at St. Mark’s was hosted by the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary, and planned to coincide with the vigil of the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the Archangels.
Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, celebrated the Mass.
In his homily, Monsignor Winslow said he liked to think of the name “Blue Mass” as a sign of the “maternal protection and mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
He shared perspectives on how the story of St. Michael, the patron of police officers, relates to the work of first responders.
“We are asking God’s protection for these responders and offering a debt of thanks for them,” he said. “St. Michael is acknowledged as a warrior saint who battles evil, so it’s not difficult to see why he is the patron of police and why we celebrate this Mass tonight.”
One of the saint’s most important responsibilities, according to Church tradition, is to combat Satan, he said.
Monsignor Patrick Winslow delivered a homily emphasizing the essential role of first responders, fortifying them for their continued service.“We have nefarious actors and bullies in the spiritual world, and we rely on him and the angels to act on our behalf to keep them at bay,” he said. “Police and first responders dedicate their careers to the service of others. They run to the front lines. They are like St. Michael in that battle between light and darkness, between good and evil.”
St. Michael is also said to escort people to heaven and call them to heavenly judgment at their deaths, he added, a role that is similar to police and first responders who all too often are with people who are near death or have already died.
The saint’s role in heavenly justice is also significant because of the role police play in earthly justice, he said.
“Police are often the front line of our justice system, bringing order in the middle of disorder – life without them would be incomprehensibly chaotic,” Monsignor Winslow said.
He urged all first responders to take their special roles seriously.
“To all of those who currently serve, your badges and uniforms are signs of the authority you wield,” Monsignor Winslow said. “Your authority is something we need to keep society intact. Wield it responsibly and prudently, and know we are aligned behind you.”
The pews in St. Mark Church were decorated with carefully made, hand-painted banners featuring police, fire and EMS symbols and prayers, made by children from the parish’s faith formation classes. They made the banners earlier in September to coincide with commemorations of Sept. 11. On that day, the parish also dedicated a stained-glass window of St. Florian, the patron of firefighters. The window is next to one of St. Michael, patron of police.
Afterward, the Bixler brothers said the Mass was a special experience. Chris Bixler, an engineer with the Charlotte Fire Department, said it was the first time he had attended a Blue Mass. Matt, who works with the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal, especially enjoyed Monsignor Winslow’s perspectives on St. Michael.
Cannon, a retired battalion chief from the Charlotte Fire Department and currently a captain with the Davidson Fire Department, was grateful for the recognition.
“I am so thankful of the fact they offer a Mass for us responders,” Cannon said. "It feels so good to be honored by the community in this way.”
— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Amy Burger and Christina Lee Knauss
