Crime & Safety

Holy Family Hosts 'Blue Mass' for Fallen Officers

The mass will be held in connection with National Police Week at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11 in the university gymnasium.

will hold its sixth annual Blue Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 11, to honor the sacrifices of police and emergency responders who have died in the line of duty.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. It will be held in the Campus Center gymnasium of the Northeast Philadelphia campus, 9801 Frankford Avenue, just down the street from the Andalusia section of Bensalem.

According to a release, the mass is held in connection with National Police Week, which recognizes the service and sacrifices of those in law enforcement May 13 through 19 in Washington, DC.

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The Blue Mass will begin with a processional of police honor guard and a bagpiper. Campus Minister Reverend James MacNew, OSFS, will officiate. During the service Joseph F. McBride, Director of Campus Safety and Security at Holy Family and a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, will read the names of each Philadelphia police officer killed while on duty, including Lt. Robert Neary, and firefighter Daniel Sweeney who recently lost their lives in the line of duty.

Police and fire officers from city districts and suburban townships will attend alongside campus security personnel, composed mostly of retired police officers.

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Special invited guests include the families of fallen police and fire officers, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey; Captain Len Ditchkofsky, Commanding Officer 8th Police District; Lieutenant Brian McBride, Commanding Officer of the University City district; John McNesby, President of FOP Lodge 5; and other FOP officials.

The Philadelphia Police Academy recruit class currently in training will attend and will be led in by the Philadelphia Police &Fire Pipes & Drums Band.

Holy Family University is a comprehensive, private university with a main campus in Northeast Philadelphia and locations in and Newtown, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.


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