A Blue Mass honoring law enforcement, fire and emergency services personnel, both active and retired, will be held March 23 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary of the Pines Church, 100 Bishop Way, Manahawkin.

Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Kenard Tuzeneu, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, assisted by deacons and parochial vicars of the parish. The Mass will be open to anyone who wishes to attend. Local representatives from Protestant faiths will be in attendance as well.

The purpose of the Blue Mass, says Deacon Joseph Fiorillo of St. Mary Parish, is to “honor and recognize those who serve the community as police officers, firefighters and EMTs.”  The parish has been offering the Mass for those in the parish vicinity, primarily but not exclusively to those in Monmouth and Ocean counties, for more than 10 years. Recently the celebration has utilized the larger space offered by the St. Mary of the Pines worship site.

“We look at it as our opportunity to say ‘thank you,’” said Msgr. Tuzeneu. “I just think it’s important to thank those who are serving us. It’s our way of reaching out to them.”

An honor guard will lead a procession with the flag at the beginning of Mass, including music from bagpipes. Later during the Mass, names of those who died in the past year will be read aloud as a bell is rung, and a candle will be lit in memory of each law enforcement, fire and emergency group.

Light refreshments are planned afterward, with a chance for attendees to socialize.

For more information, call the parish office at 609-698-5531.