Karla Dorweiler | Special to The Michigan Catholic

Detroit — Police officers from around the Archdiocese of Detroit came together for the area’s first Blue Mass on May 16. The Mass was celebrated at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Detroit to remember fallen police officers and to honor current officers during National Police Week.

Fr. Jaime Hinojos, pastor of St. Christopher-St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, hopes the Mass will become an annual tradition.

“I first heard of this when I was at St. John the Baptist in Monroe,” he said. “The pastor, Fr. Terrence Kerner, did a Red Mass for lawyers and lawmakers, and he told me there’s also such a thing as a Blue Mass,” said Fr. Hinojos. “I always thought I would like to do that when I had my own parish, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to do so.”

Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Hinojos, assisted by Deacon Rafael Jimenez and led by a procession of police officers.

In his homily, Bishop Hanchon emphasized the joy of Jesus Christ.

“I love the line where Jesus said, ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.’ I think it’s safe to say that we live in a world that doesn’t always have a lot of joy,” he said.  “But we who believe in the word of God have a responsibility to hear that word of Jesus and know that he wants his joy to be in us.”

Bishop Hanchon expressed his pride in Detroit and its police force.

“I take great pride, as I watch the news, about choices that were made many years ago to make our police force resemble our citizens. It took years to do, and you are the fruits of those choices. The way you treat your sisters and brothers while you’re in uniform, and even when you’re not in uniform, is what makes a difference.”

The bishop also assured the officers in attendance that the prayers of the Church were with them.

“So that when you have to walk that extra shift or deal with a crisis, you know that you’re not going there unarmed. You’re going very well-armed with our prayers,” Bishop Hanchon said. “We want you to know that the citizens of our city care about you and the sacrifices you make.”

“I want us to live as one,” he added. “I want us to live as people who look each other in the eye and then smile about the things that strike us as funny, and have the courage to speak up about things that don’t make us laugh and know that we’ll be heard and that our needs will be addressed.”

In closing, the bishop said, “I’m blessed to live in Detroit. We have a history. We’ve suffered. We’ve cried together. We’ve had moments of rejoicing, and more moments of rejoicing are to come.”

Following Communion, Detroit singer-songwriter Thornetta Davis sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland of District 7 led a presentation following the Mass to recognize members of law enforcement.

Police Officer Heather Ivey was awarded the Outstanding Service Award for her work in Detroit neighborhoods.

“(The Mass) was inspirational and it was nice to be honored,” Ivey said. “We don’t get that very often so it was really nice.”

Another recipient of the Outstanding Service Award, Officer Charles Staples, attended St. Christopher Catholic School as a child.

“I couldn’t wait to get back inside today. It really hasn’t changed all that much,” Staples noted.

When asked about his award, Staples said, “It means a lot that our work was recognized today. We’re part of a new program where we’re assigned to a neighborhood, and we talk with residents and attend block meetings,” he said. “It helps when they know you and have a relationship with you. It’s good for them and it’s good for us.”

Detroit Police Chief James Craig was recognized for his work with the Detroit Police Department as well.

Craig closed the ceremony by saying, “My takeaway from this event is that when we talk about the issues around the country today, we know there’s no place like Detroit.”