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Greenwich Police Officers To Be Honored At Diocese's Blue Mass

NORWALK, Conn. — The Bridgeport Diocese's annual Blue Mass honoring fire, police and rescue workers will be held at noon Sunday at St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Ave., Norwalk. 

The annual Diocesan Blue Mass honoring fire, police and rescue workers will be celebrated at noon Sunday.

The annual Diocesan Blue Mass honoring fire, police and rescue workers will be celebrated at noon Sunday.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Police, fire and other first responders to be honored at this year’s Blue Mass are: 

  • John Long, of Bridgeport, a Fire Department dispatcher and Special Olympics volunteer; 
  • Newtown Police Canine Officer Felicia Figol, who started the Police Explorers Club program; 
  • Greenwich Police Officer James Smith and Sgt. John Slusarz, for saving the life of a man trapped in a trash compactor; 
  • and Bridgeport police Sgt. Gabe Meszaros for his leadership of the Police Explorers and his work with disadvantaged youths. 
  • Norwalk Police Officer Hector Delgado for performing several community projects; 
  • Police Officer Joseph Steyer for organizing and administering multiple gun buyback days throughout the Stamford community; and 
  • Ridgefield Fire Capt. Richard Lawlor for his leadership in delivering the highest level of emergency response in Fairfield County. 

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will be the main celebrant, along with diocesan priests who serve as police and fire chaplains in Fairfield County. 

The Rev. Charles Allen, special assistant to the president of Fairfield University, is serving as chairman of the event. 

A reception immediately following Mass will be held in the Blanchard Center on parish grounds. 

Law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel of all faiths in Fairfield County, along with members of the public, are invited to attend the Mass and reception. The Blue Mass takes its name from the blue uniforms worn by police, fire and emergency services personnel. 

Founded by Bishop William E. Lori, the Blue Mass was initiated to celebrate the life and heroism of those who died during the 9/11 tragedy in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The Fairfield County councils and assemblies of the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the Mass again this year. 

At last year’s Blue Mass, Caggiano thanked uniformed officers for their service, “which is Christlike in its mission to protect others from harm, never to abandon them in need and often to suffer with those they try to save.”

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