Archbishop George J. Lucas joins Omaha police officers and firefighters, along with their leadership, for the annual Blue Mass Oct. 13 at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha. The Mass honors law enforcement and fire personnel of all faiths. Outside the cathedral after the 10 a.m. Mass were, from left, Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and the archbishop. Students from St. Cecilia School joined in the worship and activities, which included remembering active and retired police officers and firefighters who died since the last Blue Mass. Their names were read aloud as students placed a rose for each person in a vase at the altar. A choir from Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha sang for the Mass. SUSAN SZALEWSKI/STAFF (Scroll down for more photos from the Blue Mass)
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Blue Mass honors police, firefighters
October 13, 2021
Before Mass an honor guard proceeds up the aisle at the cathedral.
Omaha Police Chief Schmaderer, left, and Fire Chief Olsen read the names of retired and active police officers and firefighters who died since the last Blue Mass in 2019. The Mass was not offered last year because of COVID-19 concerns.
Third-grader Catherine Neuman was among the St. Cecilia students who brought forward a rose in honor of each deceased firefighter and police officer named during the Mass.
After the Blue Mass, Archbishop Lucas poses with St. Cecilia students outside the cathedral. Circling around him from left are fifth-grader Darian Samuel, sixth-grader Catie Tran, third-grader Felicity Anderson, fourth-grader Diego Andrew, sixth-grader Sofie Gerken and fourth-grader Hudson Koesters.
Archbishop Lucas talks with Omaha Police Officer Adam Fisher after the Mass.