BLACKWOOD – Thanking South Jersey’s women and men in law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services for their “tremendous courage … to keep us safe, to have communities of peace,” Bishop Joseph Williams celebrated the 24th annual Blue Mass on Sept. 29 at Our Lady of Hope Parish’s Saint Agnes Church.
Held on the Feast of the Archangels – Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael – the liturgy brought together Bishop Williams, Bishop Emeritus Dennis Sullivan, concelebrating priests, deacons, lay faithful, dignitaries and Catholic school students to honor first responders for their sacrifices.
These individuals, Bishop Williams said, “know that evil exists, because you see it every day. You don’t just see it; you have to do battle with it, and you’re on the front lines.”
He noted that priests and deacons share in this struggle, too, though “our uniforms are different, and so are our weapons … the weapons of the baptized, the children of light.” Citing Saint Paul, the bishop urged all to put on “the breastplate of faith, the belt of truth, the helmet of righteousness and the sword of the spirit.”
“Day after day, our priests and deacons are trying to equip the faithful with God’s armor. What an important task that is,” he continued.
Turning to the nearly 700 Catholic school students present from 32 elementary and high schools, Bishop Williams reminded them they are “worth fighting for. We have to equip them for the evil that unfortunately exists in this world.”
This evil, he said, lurks “in every human heart.” As the devil tries to make himself like God, so, too, do all people. “When we try to become like God, that’s when we sin.”
To combat this, “We have to become holy, humble, and fight that inner battle. And then we become the children of light and become true servants. People see that, and God is glorified.”
“We become truly powerful when we become humble servants of Jesus Christ … that is how we get the final victory,” Bishop Williams said.
The day included a mix of pageantry and reverence, with the Massed Pipe Bands, and the tolling of 36 bells – one for each first responder who has died in the past year in South Jersey. These included 26 retired personnel; nine active duty; and one in the line of duty, from an illness attributed to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
After Mass, the Blue Mass Service Award was given posthumously to Gloucester County Undersheriff George Johnson, a longtime Blue Mass Committee member who died in June at age 68. He was a retired Deptford Township Police detective sergeant with 38 years of law enforcement, supervisory and investigative experience.
“George was a very good man. He was an example to all of us, as he always put his family first,” said Chief David J. Harkins Sr., chief of police for the Gloucester Township Police Department. Chief Harkins, a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Camden, and Bishop Williams presented the award to Johnson’s widow, Bobbi, and family present.
“We will continue to be here for you, and we will continue to pray for George. He will not be forgotten,” Chief Harkins pledged.
Before Mass, the Williams family from Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown gathered to honor Capt. Keith Williams of the Bellmawr Police Department, a husband and father. His wife, Kathleen, said that in their father, her sons are able to see a leader and mentor. In attending the Mass, her boys – Keith Jr. and Keegan, students at Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland – were able to see the first responders’ acts of love and faith.
“Today was a beautiful testament to the service of our first responders, and to our faith in God,” she said.
For Capt. Williams, it was a certain act of care almost 40 years ago that piqued an interest for his current career. At age 10, he crashed his bike into a parked car and split his knee. Bellmawr Police Sgt. Robert Swanson came to his aid, quickly pulling out a medical kit and tending to his wounds.
From this example – and the inspiration from his grandfather, a World War II veteran – joining law enforcement “wasn’t much of a decision,” he said.
Graduating from Gloucester Catholic High School in 1998, he started as a dispatch officer, and has now served for 25 years.
“I’m blessed to be able to spend this day with my wife and two sons,” Capt. Williams said of the Blue Mass. “I hope to pass on to them the same faith, the sense of self-respect, and the importance of a life of service and living life with kindness and love,” he said.
The message also resonated with South Jersey Catholic school students like eighth-grader Xzavier Valdez of Holy Name School, Camden. “These individuals don’t get the appreciation they deserve,” he said. “They inspire me with their bravery, going out every day and risking their lives.”
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