First responders are example of how to live Christian faith

Bishop Michael Mulvey celebrated a Blue Mass in honor of first responders on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Sacred Heart Church in Mathis. The parish hosts the Mass annually and Bishop Mulvey designated it as a diocesan Mass in which the entire Diocese of Corpus Christi would participate in recognizing police, firefighters, EMS personnel and other first responders.

Bishop Mulvey said that it was a great honor to be able to do this Mass because in his ministry as a priest he had never seen this, so it was a "great joy to be able to be with you and recognize you in a very special way."

More than 30 responders attended the Mass and were recognized by the bishop "as an example of how we all should live our Christian faith..." He told those in attendance that they should love and forgive in order to have the attitude of Christ.

Bishop Mulvey said the readings for the Mass were very appropriate in honoring those who serve their fellow man. Indeed, he said that he had taken from St. Paul's word to the Philippians his episcopal motto­?"Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus." St. Paul's words before this?"Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others"?most aptly describe the commitment of first responders to the community.

"First responders reflect that in our communities," Bishop Mulvey said. "They are willing to do for others before they do for themselves."

Serve others, not because it is a job, but because it is the "mind of Christ," the bishop told the first responders. "Every brother and sister deserves to be served and loved by us. That's the mind of Christ," he said.

Bishop Mulvey said that it was important to experience the Gospel. He recalled the advise of Pope Francis to live the joy of the Gospel. "Do it, just do it. Don't think about. Don't analyze it. Just do it," the bishop quoted the pope.

He also reminded the faithful of the Holy Father's comparison of the Church as a field hospital in the front lines of a battle. The first thing a first responder does when confronted by an emergency is to take care of the need and only afterwards do they get the other information such as cholesterol levels, etc.

"Sometimes we as Christians say 'well have you been good?I remember that you did so and so?so maybe I shouldn't forgive you'. We analyze everything and the Holy Father says take care of them first and then you can talk," Bishop Mulvey said.

He told the first responders that they "represent for us what we all should be, what the Church should be in living the Gospel and reaching or to people in need."

"Yours is not always and easy job and sometimes it's a thankless job, but you know in your hearts that you respond to people in need and you are that field hospital. You know you receive the joy and the peace of knowing you are doing God's work in serving your brothers and sisters," the bishop said.

At the conclusion of the Mass the bishop invoked the blessings of God, asking that he grant the first responders courage, wisdom, strength and compassion. "When the alarm sounds, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbors," he said.

The bishop also presented the first responders with a card and a medal of St. Michael, the patron saint of first responders, as a reminder of God's love and protection.

After Mass, the first responders were treated to a barbecue dinner at the parish hall prepared by the Mathis Volunteer Fire Department. Jesse Garcia, Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 11663, said KC councils from the area sponsored the Mass.

Father Raju D. Thottankara, pastor at Sacred Heart, thanked the first responders for their service and the parish faithful for their support. He also thanked Bishop Mulvey, the Cathedral Choir group who sang at the Mass, Garcia and the Knights of Columbus and his parish staff for helping make the Mass and dinner a success.