Red, White and Blue Masses to honor various professions

Members of several professions will be honored with special Masses in the coming weeks, with a representative color for each Mass.

The Blue Mass for first responders is a tradition that began more than 80 years ago in Omaha, but will be new this year for those in the Humphrey area.

Also in Omaha, the Annual White Mass will honor healthcare professionals, and a Red Mass will be offered for those in the legal profession.

BLUE MASS

Omaha’s Blue Mass will be Oct. 15 at V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, 3131 S. 156th St., with Archbishop Michael G. McGovern as the celebrant for the 10:10 a.m. Mass.

The Blue Mass is an opportunity to say thanks to God for the work of the first responders in the community and to ask God’s blessing on them in that important and sometimes dangerous work, said Deacon Tim McNeil, chancellor for the archdiocese.

After Mass, Archbishop McGovern will bless first responders and public safety equipment.

All Omaha metro area police and fire personnel, including families and friends, are invited to attend regardless of religious affiliation. Skutt Catholic students will also participate.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Humphrey will host a Blue Mass on Sept. 29, at 8:10 a.m., to recognize emergency personnel for their service and sacrifice. The Mass will be offered on the Feast of the Archangels, which includes St. Michael, a patron saint for first responders.

After the Mass, seniors at Archangels Catholic High School in Humphrey will host a breakfast reception for their honored guests in the church basement.

Rescue workers from Humphrey, Lindsay, Platte Center, Madison, Creston, Leigh and Clarkson and from the counties of Platte, Madison and Colfax are invited. The honorees were asked to RSVP for the breakfast by Sept. 19 at 402-920-2221.

The Blue Mass, a first for the community, is something organizers hope to continue.

RED MASS

Creighton University’s School of Law is hosting a Red Mass, with anyone in the legal community – along with their family and friends – invited.

The Red Mass traditionally marks the start of the judicial year.

The Oct. 6 Mass – at 5:30 p.m. at St. John’s Church on campus – will be celebrated by Archbishop McGovern and Jesuit Father Daniel S. Hendrickson, president of Creighton. The Mass calls upon the Holy Spirit to guide everyone through the new year.

A reception at the V.J. and Angela Skutt Student Center will follow, hosted by School of Law Dean Joshua Fershée.

People are asked to register for the Mass by Oct. 6.

WHITE MASS

The Annual White Mass for Healthcare Professionals will be Oct. 11 at St. John’s Church at Creighton.

Archbishop McGovern will celebrate the 8 a.m. Mass.

Participants of a Converging Roads Health Care Ethics Conference at Creighton, which follows the Mass, are invited to worship at the Mass. But the White Mass is open to others as well.

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