A sea of blue police uniforms filled St. John the Baptist in Paterson as Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the Paterson Diocese in praying for and thanking all law-enforcement officers for their “dedicated, professional, and courageous service” on May 3 at the 25th and last celebration of the traditional annual Blue Mass. This year, the liturgy was called the Jubilee for Law Enforcement.
Bishop Sweeney celebrated the solemn Mass and paid tribute to fallen officers “who made the ultimate sacrifice in the most selfless and courageous of ways serving their communities’ sisters and brothers.” The Jubilee for Law Enforcement offered pageantry with color guards carrying American and other flags inside the cathedral and emotional tributes, including a bagpipe band playing “Amazing Grace” in memory of area lost hero officers who were recognized.
Next year, the diocese will replace the Blue Mass with an inaugural annual Guardians Mass on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. at the cathedral. The liturgy will combine the Church of Paterson’s annual Blue Mass and Red Mass into a similar celebration to honor all first responders: law-enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector, diocesan vicar for special projects, a law-enforcement and fire chaplain, and Blue Mass committee member, said he borrowed the idea from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York. Msgr. Sylva joined other priests in concelebrating the Jubilee for Law Enforcement with Bishop Sweeney.
On May 3, law-enforcement officers from Paterson and neighboring communities, other agencies and departments, and government officials attended the Jubilee for Law Enforcement. Families of officers who died found comfort in their grief. Several officers and families participated in the liturgy. The congregation prayed for the safety of all officers, the souls of the fallen, and their families. This year, the Mass was part of diocesan events for the Jubilee of Hope 2025, which the Universal Church celebrates.
In his homily, Bishop Sweeney thanked the officers for “your sacrifice, for your love” and honored fallen officers.
“Those who serve us make that oath to be willing to lay down their lives for others,” said Bishop Sweeney, noting that officers one and off duty and at every moment are “always ready to respond in the most difficult of situations.”
Jubilee for Law Enforcement attendees prayerfully remembered Sgt. Joseph Azcona of the Newark Police Department, Officer Joe Valentin of the Paterson Police Department, and Trooper II Marcellus E. Bethea, Major Jeffrey Burke, and Sgt. James J. Puhalski of the N.J. State Police. Msgr. Mark Giordani, former St. John’s rector and police and Blue Mass chaplain; Lt. Frank Petrelli and Det. Robert D. Smith of the Paterson Police Department; and Det. Ken Predmore of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office were also remembered.
Toward the end of Mass, Bishop Sweeney blessed each family of a fallen officer in attendance with a shadow box honoring the officer and a coin displaying an image of St. Michael the Archangel and the cathedral. Then, he presented the families to the congregation, who gave them a standing ovation.
