NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MAY 2014
53
Paterson Blue Mass was a solemn celebration
■ BY JOSHUA SIGMUND
■ PHOTOS BY BILL SZEKULA
At the luncheon at the Brownstone House in Paterson, Rev.
Dr. James A Kyukendall, chaplain to the Paterson Police Department, was able to genuinely emote: “We thank God we’ve all
made it another year.”
For the first time since its inception, the 15th Annual Blue
Mass hosted by the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (Diocese
of Paterson) was able to say that no law enforcement officers
were killed last year in the line of duty. On May 6, the mood outside the chapel was reflective of the sunny sky with an undertone of solemn reflection for the danger faced by police officers
every day.
“It’s a real nice thing that we all work together to memorialize fallen officers,” said Wayne Lieutenant Paul Dring, who is
also the coordinator for the Wayne Honor Guard. “And this year
we’re very fortunate to have nobody to mourn.”
Following a hymn played out by the Emerald Society Pipes
and Drums played before a packed crowd of close to 500 officers from Passaic, Morris and Sussex Counties, cities including
Newark and Jersey City, the Port Authority Police Department,
and friends of law enforcement, prayers were emitted by various speakers under the leadership of the Most Reverend Arthur
J. Serratelli, Bishop of Paterson.
“The feeling was very emotional,” noted Retired Paterson
Lieutenant Frank Petrelli, who also serves as the Chairman of
From left: Blue Mass Chairman Frank Petrelli, Rev. Dr. James A
Kuykendall and Blue Mass Co-Chairman Robert Smith
the Blue Mass. “You go to alot of these but they never stop being
emotional. People don’t realize that police officers go to work
not knowing if they’re going home. That’s why you have to
always give your family a kiss before you leave.”
One officer kept in everybody’s mind was Bergen County
Police Officer Daniel Breslin, who was injured on April 19 in a
car crash on Route 46. Breslin was in critical but stable condition at the Hackensack University Medical Center after the accident.
At an event that is normally reserved for cops, thoughts and
prayers were also with the family of Wallington Fire Captain
Gregory Barnas, who died on Feb. 28 while fighting a fire on the
roof of a Wallington restaurant.
Wallington Firefighter Jacob Hrywniak, who attended the
Mass with the Barnas family including son Kevin, a Jersey City
firefighter, was honored to be included in this law enforcement
event.
“It was very nice having all these cops mourn with us,” Hrywniak stated.
“This Mass is to show support for family members in their
time of grief, no matter if they’re law enforcement or any other
first responder,” Petrelli added. “We’re all one big community.”