Held at St. Mel Church in Norco, the Blue Mass was one of the three liturgies offered in October for those who serve in public service vocations – public safety, legal and healthcare. The Red Mass, honoring judges, attorneys and paralegals, was held on Oct. 4 at St. Francis de Sales Church in Riverside. Doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants and other healthcare professionals were prayed for at the White Mass on Oct. 30 at Christ the Redeemer Church in Grand Terrace.
At all three Masses, special awards are given to individuals for faith-filled contributions in their field. At the Red Mass, Judge Manuel Ramirez received the Saint Thomas More Award, given to someone whose conduct in the legal profession is an extension of his or her faith. It was the 25th Anniversary of the first Diocesan Red Mass and only fitting that Judge Ramirez was honored. He helped to start the Steering Committee that led to the first Red Mass in the Diocese.
The Blue Mass typically honors an individual from a public safety agency with the Chief Patrick Crowe Award for exceptional service to the community, department or church. This year, the Steering Committee for the Mass chose to give the award to the San Bernardino Police Department and San Bernardino Fire Department (now part of the San Bernardino County Fire Department).
“We feel safe in San Bernardino,” said Monsignor Gerard Lopez, STL, Vicar General of the Diocese and Chief Celebrant of this year’s Blue Mass. “We have a special responsibility to pray for you.”
Those who attended the Blue Mass said they welcomed the appreciation of the faith community.
“It humanizes our profession,” said Det. John Samano of the Corona Police Department. “Many people are under the belief that when you don the uniform, you’re stone. But we’re no different than anybody else.”
The White Mass, held for the fourth straight year after a long hiatus, bestowed a number of awards that share a connection to the Diocesan Ministry of Pastoral Care to the Sick and Dying:
St. Luke Award (Physician)—Dr. Habra Sabry, D.O., Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary Regional Medical Center. “At those difficult moments when others may shy away from the reality of our human frailty, illness and dying, this very special physician who exemplifies the value of dignity and service embraces the tenet that every interaction is a unique opportunity to provide service and love to another,” states her nomination summary.
Florence Nightingale Award (Nurse) – Faith Norton, retired nurse and currently serving as an Advocate in the Palliative Care Department of St. Mary Regional Medical Center. “Her devotion to caring for others did not end when she turned in her nursing uniform after her half a century long career. Instead she continued the art of healing by becoming a chaplain and tending to the nurturing and care of the seriously ill, and those who are at the end of life,” reads her nomination summary.
Bishop Award (Healthcare provider who is not a physician or nurse) – Santiago G. Bautista, a retired U.S. Army medical technologist who served in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield in 1991, Operation Joint Endeavor in 1997 and Operation Enduring Freedom from 2003-2004. Bautista now serves in a number of volunteer capacities in his community including the Rancho Cucamonga Senior Center, Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, and Mary’s Table in San Bernardino.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award (individual who is not a medical professional, but has supported health projects and programs) – Susan Skora, who serves in the chaplaincy services in the Low Desert Vicariate of the Diocese. “At a time when it was becoming very difficult to cover and provide spiritual care to patients in some of the hospitals in the Low Desert area, she took it upon herself to reach out to the priests/ministers for these facilities. She developed a program for training and instructing ministers for the chaplaincy services program, and went ahead to promote and encourage people to participate in this ministry,” reads the nomination statement for Skora.