By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
The Diocese of Evansville honored the work of all public safety responders during the annual Blue Mass.
Father Alex Zenthoefer, diocesan Vicar General and rector of St. Benedict Cathedral, celebrated the Blue Mass Oct. 2 at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. Father Ray Brenner, senior priest of the diocese; Father Zach Etienne, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville; and Father Tyler Underhill, parochial vicar of St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, concelebrated the Mass. Students from St. Benedict Cathedral attended the Mass.
The Blue Mass is celebrated annually by the Church, dating back to 1934. It is celebrated across the nation on or near the Sept. 29 Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, patron of those in public safety and who protect others.
During his homily, Father Zenthoefer said our first responders help us to not only keep us safe but also bring order. Father Zenthoefer said in their very first school Mass, they talked about how we live in an ordered world and need order. In the Oct. 2 homily, he referenced the need for order in the classroom, as well as in the community.
“We have to listen. We have to receive information. We have to learn,” Father Zenthoefer said. “And in that ordered space, we’re able to kind of grow and mature. It’s the same for us in our community. We need an ordered place where we can be kept safe so that we can flourish as human beings.”
In addition to celebrating the Blue Mass near the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the Oct. 2 Mass was celebrated on the Feast of the Guardian Angels. In the same way that our first responders keep us safe and keep order, our guardian angels also keep us on a path that leads back to God, Father Zenthoefer said in his homily.
“The angels, they guard our souls and they keep us moving in the right direction in an ordered way,” Father Zenthoefer said. “So that our hearts are always focused on receiving the good things that the Lord has done for us.”
During his homily, Father Zenthoefer said he wanted everyone to think about how much God loves them, that he sent the men and women celebrated Oct. 2 at the Blue Mass, as well as the guardian angels.
“God gives person after person after person to remind you that he loves you and has a plan for your life,” he said. “And so let’s pray today that we can listen to those who are sent to help us. That we can listen to our guardian angels, that we can allow the Lord to keep drawing us closer to himself, so that we can experience the joy that he wants for us.”