By Mary Powers
On Sunday, September 8, San Franciscans gathered in prayer to support first responders, including active duty and retired members who have died over the past year.
The Mass celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone took place at St. Cecilia Catholic Church and was sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco Fire Department, and San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.
In this election year, both elected officials and candidates came together in solidarity and prayer to support the agencies.
Mayor London Breed attended the Mass along with her Chief of Staff Sean Elsbernd and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí. Also attending were members of the San Francisco Interfaith Council led by Michael Pappas and members of the Police and Fire Commission and the Sheriff’s Oversight Board.
The annual Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass originated as a way to honor the firefighters who lost their lives during the 1946 Herbert Hotel Fire and continues to honor all first responders.
In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone spoke on the importance of servant leadership demonstrated by the city’s first responders—entering into places no one will enter, treating those who need assistance equally without regard for what one receives in return or risk to oneself.
“As first responders, you display these qualities of dedication, self-sacrifice, and willingness to step into situations where no one else wants to go in order to confront danger, violence or potential violence, and any kind of human suffering and distress,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “As such, you provide an example for the rest of us; for anyone in a position of leadership needs to embrace these qualities – whether in government, pastoral care of a faith community, leadership in corporations or non-profit organizations. We all need to recognize that dark side of our human nature and be willing to intervene, each of us, in accordance with how we are called to serve, by divesting ourselves of our self-referentiality and self-interest, in order to protect the weak, lift up the poor, and act always for the common good, no matter the cost to ourselves.”
The event included a special blessing of the stars and badges and the traditional Last Alarm featured remarks by Firefighter Mario Flaherty.
Photos: Dennis Callahan, Archdiocese of San Francisco
