Dozens of first responders and their families filled the pews at St. Peters Church Sunday, listening intently as Bishop Jeffrey Monforton reminded them service to others “always comes with a cost.”
“How effective would you be if you constantly lived in your comfort zone, how safe would you be?” asked Monforton, celebrant for this year’s Blue Mass. “Discipleship is willingly accepting, not accidentally accepting, crosses. It comes with considerable cost. Services comes with a cost.
“Your plate will be full with both the easy and the difficult (tasks),” he added. “Discipleship, like your service, can never be taken lightly.”
The Blue Mass, an annual expression of thanks to police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and others on the front line, has been celebrated nine of the past 10 years — only missing one year, 2012, due to the death of Monsignor George Yontz, who had celebrated those first few masses.
Organizers say it’s a time to celebrate the fallen and offer prayers for those still on the job.