By Rosemary Daniels|Correspondent

Since 2003, St. Agnes Parish has celebrated an annual Blue Mass, offering an opportunity to recognize policemen and firemen for the contributions they make to the community.

Such was the occasion once again Oct. 16 when more than 100 law enforcement officials filed into the Atlantic Highlands church for the 10th Blue Mass celebrated by Father William Lago, pastor.

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“We want to show our gratitude and respect for all first responders; we pray for these first responders as they perform their duties, and we also thank and pray for their families,” said John Flynn, a United States Coast Guard veteran, former fire chief of Middletown, and member of St. Agnes Parish since 1953.

“These families are the support system of the men and women who perform their duties every day,” he said.

Flynn was instrumental in introducing the Blue Mass as a tradition in his parish 10 years ago. He recalled how the first Blue Mass honored local firemen, law enforcement, emergency medical services and the Coast Guard. He noted that when St. Agnes Parish was twinned with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Highlands, in 2006, the observance expanded to include the parishioners of Highlands and Sandy Hook, as well as the National Park Service, employees as the fifth group of first responders.

Since his arrival to the parish in June, Father Lago said he has enjoyed preparing for the Mass and meeting many of the first responders in the area.

“This Mass really forms a bridge with the response teams. The parish is represented, the community is represented. Our strong support of this group is evidence of continuing our Catholic culture,” said Father Lago.

The Oct. 16 Mass began with the New Jersey United Pipe Bands leading the attendees into church. The colors were posted by representatives of the Middletown Fire Department. Once the first responders were in their pews, the Knights of Columbus led the entrance procession, which included Father Lago, Father Michael Lynch, parochial vicar, and Deacon Raymond Rainville, who assisted at the Mass. An ecumenical spirit was added with the presence of representatives from the Hellenic Orthodox Monastery of St. Barbara, the United Methodist Church, and the New Life Christian Church. Sue Wankel brought her fouryear- old grandsons, Thomas and Christopher, to see their dad and uncle participate in the Mass. Wankel said, “My son is a firefighter in Leonardo, and the boys’ uncle is a bagpiper. Thomas and Christopher’s grandfather was a former fire chief of Middletown, and their great-grandfather was a firefighter. We come every year. It’s such a nice Mass.” And although Irene VandeWoude does not have any direct connection with the first responders, she also attends the Blue Mass each year.

“I just come for the beautiful Mass. I’ve been a parishioner for 10 years, and I love the bagpipers’ music…,” she said.

In his homily, Father Lago noted the connection between the clergy and the first responders. “We are alike in that we both respond to the call of the bell. It might be the bell at the station, it might be a phone ringing to tell us about someone in need. We never know what might await us at the other side of that bell, but we go.”