17 Annual Blue Mass Celebration

All active and retired police, fire, and emergency responders in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (and their families) are invited to attend the 17th Annual Blue Mass Celebration at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Police chaplain, Father Steve Angi, will be the  celebrant. 

The celebration will begin with a special blessing ceremony at 10:45 a.m. for all police, fire, and safety personal in attendance, followed by a procession and Mass. (All police, fire, and safety personal are encouraged to appear in uniform.) Names of safety personnel who have died this past year will be read aloud. After the service, there will be a reception with refreshments and fellowship. 

The 17th Annual Blue Mass Celebration is a wonderful community opportunity to prayerfully honor all those who assist in making our neighborhoods safe and remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to save others.  

If any fire, police, or emergency responders are trained as lectors or Eucharistic ministers and would like to serve at Mass, please contact the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains staff at (513) 421-5354. 

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains is located at 325 W. Eighth Street in downtown Cincinnati.


What is the Blue Mass Celebration? 
Blue Mass celebrations are held throughout the United States, usually in a cathedral setting, to honor and pray for the men and women who serve our communities as police, fire and safety personnel. The homily contains a message of appreciation, encouragement, and solidarity with the safety personnel as keepers of order in our civil society, and it honors them for their value to all the people. Names of deceased personnel from the previous year are read aloud during the liturgy. 
Since 2005, the Blue Mass has occurred every September in Cincinnati, because Catholic tradition looks upon St. Michael the Archangel as the patron of safety personnel, and his feast is celebrated each year on September 29. 
The Blue Mass is,, as the name indicates,, a Mass, the typical Catholic worship service.. Others who are not Catholic are cordially welcome to join with the Catholic community in this honoring of and praying for all of our safety personnel, regardless of faith or denomination. Many safety agencies send representatives, and their safety vehicles are positioned in front of the cathedral for a blessing prior to the Mass.. Bagpipers play, and honor guards from police, fire, and sheriffs' departments lead participants into the cathedral for the service. 
Refreshments and fellowship follow the service and are open to the whole community.