RECOGNITION — Finalizing plans for the annual Blue Mass on Sept. 10 are, from left, Alexandra Hart, Patrolman Eric Hart, Assistant Fire Chief Chris Takach and Bishop Jeffrey Monforton. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. in St. Peter Catholic Church, with a group photo in front of the church at 9:40 a.m. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — The annual Blue Mass, a service of remembrance for first responders who have died in the line of duty and a chance to pray for the safety of those still working, will be celebrated Sept. 10 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 424 N. Fourth Street.

“We need to make sure our first responders are acknowledged and given a pat on the back for their service to our community, and to recognize those in our area who have lost their lives in the line of duty,” volunteer Alexandra Hart said.

Hart and her husband, Steubenville Patrolman Eric Hart, have been organizing the Blue Mass since its inception 14 years ago. She said they’ve only had to miss two years — 2012, following the death of Monsignor George Yontz, who celebrated those first few Masses — and in 2020, that time due to COVID. “It’s a way to thank all of the first responders for all that they do and for the sacrifices they make,” Patrolman Hart said. “It’s also a way to ask for God’s protection over all of us.”

Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of the Diocese of Steubenville will celebrate the Mass, which will begin at 10 a.m. Police, firefighters and emergency services personnel planning to attend are asked to be at the church by 9:40 a.m. for a group picture prior to the service.

Gifts of remembrance will be presented in memory of the firefighters, police officers and EMTs who have died in the line of duty in Jefferson County, and a bell will toll as their names are read:

• Steubenville: Patrolman Leslie McDonald (1908), Patrolman Lafayette Mercer (1914), Patrolman Owen Burns (1926), Lt. Scott Roe (1928), Patrolman Leonard Lamatrice (1972) and Patrolman Thomas McGough (1972);

• Steubenville Fire Department: Firefighter Patrick McKay (1888), Firefighter Michael McGraw (1899), Firefighter Henry Bauman (1918) and Firefighter Casimir Pawelczyk (1974);

• Phoenix Hose Co. (pre-Steubenville Fire Department): Firefighter Alexander Bickerstaff (1885);

• Mingo Junction: Patrolman William J. Snider (1923) and Lt. Michael J. Maguschak Sr. (1970);

• Toronto: Patrolman Ralph Benton Miller Sr. (1978);

• Toronto Fire Department: Firefighter Donald Cottrell (1993);

• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department: Deputy Michael Brandle (2015).

• Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department: Firefighter Claude Jones (1966); and

• Tiltonsville Volunteer Fire Department: Chief Doug Dugan (2021).

Rick Hicks will be on hand again this year to play taps, while Derrick Sullivan will play bagpipes as the first responders enter the church and again as they leave.

“We’ll have the flag draped from the fire truck, they extend the ladder to the fire truck to hang it,” Alexandra Hart said. “We have a group picture with the bishop with all the first responders on the steps at the front of the church — everyone seems to really appreciate that picture.”

First responders attending the mass will each receive a gift from Nelson’s Fine Art and Gifts, she said.

“Nelson’s is donating the gift as they do every year,” she said, “and bishop blesses the gifts — he blesses them and anybody who brings their police car or their fire truck or ambulance, he does a special blessing for them at the end of Mass.”

M&M True Value Hardware’s Scott Campbell is overall sponsor. J.K. Auto Glass is sponsoring a cake and McCauslen’s Florist is donating corsages for the first responders and their families.

“The Catholic Women’s Club at St. Peter’s is hosting a reception afterward for the first responders and their families,” she said. “It’s a time where everybody can come and enjoy each other’s presence and really have a sense of fellowship.”