Large turnout fills Sacred Heart for 15th annual Blue Mass

More than 450 people attended the 15th Annual Blue Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Mulvey at Sacred Heart Church in Mathis on Sept. 17. The event was followed by an awards ceremony and appreciation dinner, honoring men and women in law enforcement, public safety and first responders.
 
There were about 90 public service personnel, state and federal, in attendance–some came from as far as Hebbronville. Other honorees came from Kingsville, Beeville, Bee County, Aransas Pass, Ingleside and Corpus Christi. They consisted of DEA agents, Border Patrol, EMS personnel, police, firefighters and 911 dispatchers.
 
Senona Fernandez, a 911 dispatcher for the Corpus Christi Police Department, received the Outstanding Community Service Award for walking a caller through the process of delivering his newborn.
 
Other Outstanding Community Service Award recipients—nominated by different KC councils from throughout the diocese—were Jimmy Rivera, constable for Precinct 3 in Nueces County and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Bishop; Reuben Vela, Corpus Christi Police Department and also a member of the Knights of Columbus at the Cathedral; the City of Kingsville Fire Department; Tri County EMS in Ingleside who also delivered a baby over the Harbor Bridge; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice McConnell Unit in Beeville.
 
The Blue Star Award was given to Lt. Joe Lewis Guerra from the Robstown Police Department. This award is a special Outstanding Community Service Award given for his 43 years of serving the city of Robstown. Guerra is a veteran of the Vietnam War, a Purple Heart recipient and a Bronze Star recipient.
 
The Mathis VFW Post Color Guard, deacon candidates and 60 members of the Fourth Degree Knights were also in attendance. Roberta Haywood played the bagpipes. After Mass, the Mathis Volunteer Fire Department cooked fajitas in the parish hall.
 
According to Jesse Garcia, the event produced an "outstanding turnout". When the first Blue Mass was held 15 years ago only 10 people showed up. "We served over 300 people at the free appreciation dinner, which is a fundraiser we do for the Knights of Columbus. We provide the meat, but local businesses provide other condiments."

Jesse Garcia contributed photos



To view indivudal photos click here.