Memorial Mass Honors Fallen Firefighters

Diocese honors firemen who have lost their lives in the line of duty

PATERSON  To honor the countless brave firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty, the Paterson Diocese held its first Fallen Firefighters Memorial Mass at St. Gerard Majella Church here Oct. 8.

The Mass honored 72 deceased firefighters from the Paterson Diocese killed in the line of duty. Special recognition was made of Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, former pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Mil­ford, who was killed on Sept. 11, 2001 while serving as a FDNY fire chaplain, and Franciscan Father John Piccione, the chaplain of several fire departments and pastor of St. Bonaventure Church here, who died in 2009. Bishop Serratelli was main celebrant of the Mass with several diocesan priests concelebrating. Father Patrick Ryan, pastor of St. James Parish in Totowa, who was part of the committee that coordinated the Mass, delivered the homily.

To begin the Mass, the Passaic County Pipes and Drums played as the American flag and banners were carried by members of local fire departments who proces­sed down the main aisle. Participating in the Mass as readers and gift bearers were local firefighters from around the diocese.

Bishop Serratelli welcomed the firefighters and said, “Today we gather to worship God and to thank him for the lives of our firemen, not only the lives that have been given in the service of others in the line of duty but also for all those who continue to serve us, the community, so our lives may be safe and free from harm.”

In his homily, Father Ryan reflected about his childhood and spending summer with his grandparents on Staten Island, N.Y. and the respect everyone had for each other. “We had heroes and the firefighters were considered our friends,” he said.

He talked about how many things have changed in his grandparents’ neighborhood. “My grandparents would be confused about the changes. One thing they would never comprehend is someone shooting a firefighter who was there to help them ”

Father Ryan reminded the firefighters about the importance of faith and Sunday Mass. He said, “There are things going on in a world today that we can’t control. We look at the Middle East, Africa so much craziness, so much violence. Such misunderstanding. But we can’t allow that to affect our relationship between us and God. We cannot allow the confusion of the world to cause us to be blind. Jesus is calling us to here and now.”

He spoke about keeping priorities focused on God and family and to look beyond what society tells us. “I think as firefighters are people who put their lives on the line each time an alarm rings. It’s that simple, because we don’t know what the day holds. We don’t know what that next alarm will bring us to. We can do a good job, a better job if we have Jesus leading us. I challenge of you, all of us, to get back to Jesus and to put our focus on God, our family and our communities. As you go out to fight fires, do it with all you have but never forget it’s also a time to allow Jesus and his fire to burn in our hearts.”

Following the homily, the Prayers of the Faithful were said reflecting on prayers for the firefighters, especially for their safety. After Communion, the Passaic County Pipes and Drums played “Amazing Grace,” which moved many in the congregation to tears at the Mass.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Serratelli said, “I want to express a word of gratitude. It shows great faith and devotion on your part to ask for a Mass for firefighters. I know God, looking at that request, is extremely pleased. I ask God to strengthen your faith and to strengthen your courage and to provide help and assistance not only to you but also to your families. You make a great contribution keeping our society and our homes and our Diocese safe.”