Blue Mass brings ‘comfort,’ acknowledgement to first responders throughout Archdiocese of Baltimore

Nicholas Costello says his Catholic faith is a great source of comfort in his work as chief of police for the City of Frostburg. He says it was equally comforting sharing that faith Sept. 17 with the broader first-responder community at the annual Blue Mass at St. Joseph Monastery.

Archbishop William E. Lori acknowledges the service and sacrifice of first responders, military personnel and their families during his Blue Mass homily September 17, 2023, at St. Joseph Monastery Parish in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Costello, who read the Prayer of the Faithful at the event in Irvington, has worked in law enforcement for 18 years. He is an active member of Divine Mercy Parish in Frostburg, working with his wife, Whitney, in faith formation for high school students.

“It’s very comforting to know the faith-based community is there to support us,” said Costello, who is chaplain of the Maryland Police Chiefs Association. “It’s great to have an event like this for fellowship and joy, and to build one another up in our work.”

The event at St. Joseph, celebrated for the second straight year by Archbishop William E. Lori, drew an estimated 400. The Blue Mass, named for the color of uniforms worn by many first responders, recognizes law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and both retired and active-duty public safety professionals.

The Mass, which included personnel from more than a dozen agencies from Anne Arundel County to Montgomery County and Frostburg, fittingly opened with the presentation of colors by an honor guard and the national anthem.

Archbishop Lori opened the liturgy by thanking pastor Father Michael Murphy for hosting and noted the high-ranking police officials and dignitaries in attendance, including acting Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

Acting Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley, right, and Acting Baltimore City Fire Chief James W. Wallace, bow their heads in prayer with fellow first responders during the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s annual Blue Mass honoring first responders and military personnel September 17, 2023, at St. Joseph Monastery Parish in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

In his homily, Archbishop Lori said he has “always been impressed by those who dedicate their lives to serving others,” noting there is nothing easy about their work.

He drew comparison to the words from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (14:7): “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

“You have decided to dedicate your lives to something much larger than yourselves,” the archbishop said, thanking responders for what they do “day in and day out.”

Marine Capt. Kenneth Motsay, a St. Ursula School and Calvert Hall College High School graduate who died in February at age 30 while serving as an NROTC instructor in Maine, was remembered at the Mass. His parents, Charles and Sandra, were on hand and said they were deeply moved by the archdiocese’s recognition of their son’s sacrifice.

The Blue Mass, concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., concluded with the playing of “Taps” and the singing of “America the Beautiful.”

The tradition of honoring first responders by the Catholic Church dates back to 1934 when a priest from Baltimore, Father Thomas Dade, celebrated an event at St. Patrick in Washington, D.C.

Victoria Motsay, sister of Marine Captain Kenneth Motsay, the 30-year-old Calvert Hall College High School alum who died in the line of duty while participating in military training in February, places flowers on her brother’s military cover (blue pillow). (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Father Michael Murphy, pastor of St. Joseph, said it is important for his parish to be supportive of first responders, noting the parish connects often with police and fire fighters through community events.

“To honor first responders is the least we can do,” the pastor said of his parish that recently sponsored a gun buyback that collected 362 firearms. “We need to show them support and how loved they are. It also is important to show that to their families who care so deeply about them.

“Being in the city, we connect a lot and work closely with them so it’s an important event for us,” said Father Murphy, who helped set up the “First Responders of the Archdiocese of Baltimore” Facebook page to promote the event and the work of Maryland first responders.

Chief Costello, who also counsels students at Frostburg University’s Osborne Newman Center, said that the Blue Mass is “very powerful” and inspiring.

“For me personally, my Catholic faith is a source of refuge in my life, a source of inspiration, as well as a source of kindness, forgiveness and healing,” Costello said. “We see some terrible things in our line of work, and it’s very important to know that God is there. And it’s very important to know that the faith-based community is there for us as we try to be forgiving and healing hands in our work.”

Ed Doll, a 25-year veteran as a paramedic with the Baltimore City fire department, said the recognition is vital for those in especially demanding lines of work.

Baltimore County Executive John A. Olszewski Jr., center, kneels following Communion at the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s annual Blue Mass. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“It’s a humbling experience to be honored like this,” said Doll, who was raised in Irvington and is still a parishioner of St. Joseph Monastery. “Not to look down on other jobs, but we do go through a lot of stress and tragedy in our line of work. It’s nice to have faith as an outlet when we see things we don’t understand like the death of a child or a mass shooting. It’s absolutely humbling that the Catholic Church gives us this hour to be recognized.”

Doll praised Father Murphy’s work at the monastery and his outreach to the community.

“He’s a real gem,” said Doll, who said he was baptized, confirmed and married at the monastery. “It’s so great having someone like him to lean on and talk with.”

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St. John in Westminster will host a Blue Mass Sept. 30 at 4:30 p.m. as well as a reception afterward for first responders. Those wishing to attend the reception should call 410-848-4744 or email crivadeneira@sjwest.org

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

To view more photos from the Blue Mass, click through the slideshow below or visit https://catholicreview.smugmug.com/Blue-Mass-St-Joseph-Monastery-Parish/