NJDOC photos taken by Chris Larden
Blue Mass
A Celebration of Law Enforcement
Each year, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., Diocese of Trenton, celebrates a Mass honoring law enforcement personnel in Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington Counties in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.
The annual event is held to offer thanks to God for the dedication and sacrifice made by the women and men in law enforcement and for their families and communities. The Celebration of Law Enforcement, or Blue Mass as it has come to be known, is sponsored by the diocese each year and is coordinated by the Blue Mass committee, among others.
Some 600 members of law enforcement take part in the Mass, including color guard units, bagpipers, and drum and bugle corps from throughout the region.
2013 Blue Mass Coverage
From the Monitor
2012 Blue Mass Coverage
From the Monitor
2013 Blue Mass Committee:
The Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M.
Bishop of Trenton
Chairman
Lt. Howard Allaire (Ret.)
Trenton Police Department
Co-Chairman
Terrence P. Farley, Esq. (Ret.)
1st Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor
Chairmen Emeritus
Det. James P. Vuocolo (Ret.)
Dover Township Police
Chief Jeff Thompson (Ret.)
Ocean County Sheriff’s Dept
Committee Members:
Rayanne Bennett
Diocesan Executive Director, Office of Communications
Edward R. Brannigan, President
Steve Szypulski
N.J. Fraternal Order of Police
Chris Burgos, President
Michael Zanyor, First Vice President
State Troopers Fraternal Assoc
Ptl. Brian Carvale
Hamilton Twp. P.D.
Sgt. Guy Cirillo
N.J. Dept. of Corrections
DSFC James Gaffigan, President
DSFC Frederick J. Gordon (Ret)
DSG James Regan
N.J. State Police N.C.O.A
Capt. Jeffrey W. Hein (Ret)
Sgt. Craig Johnson
Ocean County Sheriff’s Dept.
Rev. Msgr. Philip A. Lowery
Clergy Coordinator
Joseph L. Mannucci, Jr., Deputy Chief
US Customs & Border Protection
U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos
John Faber
Admin Analyst, US Marshals Service
Stephen J. Montgomery
Kenneth Shuey (Ret.)
Special Agent, F.B.I
Michael Mohr
Resident Agent in Charge, ATF-Trenton
James Nestor
Office of Attorney General
David Paulus
Ocean County 200 Club
David P. Rible, Assemblyman
NJ State Assembly, District 11
Rev. Joseph Roldan, Rector
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Trenton, NJ
Rev. Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni
Diocesan Director, Office of Worship
Mitchell C. Sklar, Executive Dir.
N.J. State Assoc. of Chiefs of Police
Off. Vito Vacirca
Mercer County Sheriffs Dept.
Anthony Wieners, President
N.J. State Policemen’s Benevolent Assoc.
William B. Winans, Special Agent
US Secret Service