Gathered together at St. Bernard Parish in Madison, first responders from Madison and around the state came to be honored and give honor to those who have given their life in the line of duty.
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison celebrated the annual Blue Mass on May 16 with Fr. Michael Radowicz, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Madison and other priests from the Diocese of Madison.
The Mass was celebrated in the St. Bernard parish center, due to active construction on the church that is expected to be complete in the fall of 2025, at which time the church will be elevated to a cathedral.
At the Blue Mass was Central District Captain Mike Hanson of the Madison Police Department; Deputy Robert Joseph Lurquin of the Dane County Sheriff’s Department; District Two Commander Brian Hageman of the Wisconsin Fire and EMS Memorial Honor Guard; and additional deputies, police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
To ‘respond’
Bishop Hying began his homily welcoming the first responders.
He said, “I always enjoy celebrating this annual Blue Mass. I want to thank all leaders of our community, leaders of all of our different branches of first responders. You represent so many heroes in our community, so we’re honored by your presence today.
“[This Mass] is a gesture of our gratitude, our admiration, our deep respect, and our love for you. You represent everyone who’s not here, who is busy serving the needs of our community, and we offer a deeply felt, ‘Thank you’.”
Bishop Hying transitioned into a reflection on the word “respond” and how first responders emulate God’s love.
He began, “The word ‘respond’ means to acknowledge, to answer, to give . . . for the need of another. To respond is to acknowledge the presence of the dignity and the need of another human being.”
“When we see someone in distress, when we are in relationship with someone who is suffering, when we see somebody in danger, there’s an instinctive human response to want to help, to intercede, to jump in, to do something. As Christians, we know that God has written that response into our hearts.”
“So, we acknowledge all of our first responders who in so many beautiful, courageous, and compassionate ways echo, image, and make present a loving and compassionate God,” the bishop said.
Keeping hope alive
After the Bishop’s homily, a somber offertory followed.
Three deputies were a part of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard who, after the offertory prayers were lifted, processed to the right of the altar and lit candles in remembrance of those who have died in the line of duty.
The three deputies in the honor guard were Deputy Gwen Ruppert, Deputy Kirsten Tjugum, and Deputy Patrick Eith.
After the Liturgy of the Eucharist and end of the Mass, Captain Hanson, Deputy Lurquin, and Commander Hageman gave closing remarks.
Captain Hanson, who is due to retire from the Madison Police Department on June 5 after a 23 year career, wished that he could speak for 10 times as long as was scheduled because “this has been a faith journey like no other”.
But he began by saying that there is a great “importance of faith in first responders” and by thanking Bishop Hying for his presence.
He said that the Blue Mass is especially impactful because of the Mass’ petitions.
He said, “They pray for first responders because of the work we do, [for] acknowledgement, and the importance of prayer for the men and women that are serving our community.”
What Captain Hanson wanted to share most was a lesson he learned from Msgr. Mike Burke, who died in September of 2020.
He said, “As I reflect on my own career, [Monsignor] Burke from St. Maria Goretti [Parish in Madison] instilled for years to keep hope alive. As I was preparing my notes, I couldn’t help but think of his message and how so many times as a first responder, we run into people without hope.
“At first in my career, I thought, ‘How could you not have hope?’ As you grow in your career, you look at things differently and you look at the fact that every single contact that you have, every single person that you are in contact with is someone’s child, is a child of God, no matter what they did.”
Captain Hanson also acknowledged that, “as of today, 58 individuals in 2024 have paid the supreme price to their community, in losing their lives.”
In 2023, there were 138.
He concluded by saying, “We pray and remember and hold on to hope for their eternal souls.”
Deputy Lurquin, who is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, began his remarks thanking his brother Knights for being in attendance. He thanked them for bringing their “dignity and reverence” to the Mass, which he appreciated.
Deputy Lurquin prayed the Prayer of St. Francis for the first responders in attendance and himself.
He chose the prayer because “this prayer, I think, really touches home to anybody: Whether you’re in law enforcement, whether you’re a first responder with fire or EMS, whether you’re anything as a human being and you’re living through the Faith of the Lord.”
Commander Hageman finished the closing remarks by bringing attention to the Fire Service Honor Guard, which he has been a part of for 12 years.
With two sons also in the fire service, Commander Hageman “knows what the job is all about” and shared that “every fallen firefighter deserves to be honored, as well as the family”.
Because of his experience in the honor guard, he specifically wanted to say thank you to “the bishop, the Church, from all of us”.
After closing remarks, Gunderson Funeral Home in Madison sponsored a social with light refreshments for the first responders and their families, the bishop and priests, Knights of Columbus, and others in attendance.