ORLANDO | Police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other first responders gathered at St. James Cathedral for a standing-room-only Blue Mass. The Mass traditionally recognizes first responders on the feast day of the archangels, Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

Coming out to display an enormous American flag were teams with two firetrucks, while the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol Unit delighted students from several diocesan schools. An honor guard made up of members of the Orlando Police and Fire Departments, and the Orange County Fire Rescue and Sheriff’s Office solemnly remembered those lost by placing a hat recognizing each branch of service at the foot of the altar.

Captain Mary Huggins of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, helps coordinate the Mass. Her son, Jeffrey Huggins, was among the many recognized.

“(The Mass is) a reflection of the recognition of all the hard work of all the first responders,” she said. “We appreciate the bishop, all the clergy and students coming out to celebrate with us. It touches every single first responder’s heart.”

Offering the homily was Father Chris Dorsey, parochial administrator of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Altamonte Springs. Father Dorsey recently returned from serving as an Army chaplain for seven years. Prior to that, he served as chaplain of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department.

Recalling the Gospel reading from John which tells the story of Nathaniel’s calling and how Jesus saw him under the fig tree, Father Dorsey likened Nathaniel’s experience to how God works in our lives.

“He breaks into the normalcy with what we need,” he said noting how first responders bring healing amidst distress with the help of the archangels. He said that is because their names represent some aspect of God.

He explained the “el” at the end of each of the archangels’ names means God. Raphael means God heals. His story is in the book of Tobit. Although Tobit is blind, Father Dorsey said he sees better than most people.

“Tobit is in exile, but he is able to teach his family who God is and how to live in God’s way. So, God sends an angel into his life – and the scales from his eyes fall off and he is able to see,” Father Dorsey said. “Our first responders bring that healing of God into people’s lives. How often are our EMTs, sheriffs, police, not only helping the wounded, but our wounded communities; helping people whose lives are broken, to put them back together into a semblance of something that makes sense? They bring order where there is chaos, and God sends His angels to help in that.”

Gabriel means God’s strength. Gabriel is the angel of the Annunciation who told Mary she would bear the Son of God, entering her normal life and revealing something supernatural. Imagining Mary’s fear in that moment and how Gabriel helped empower her to go forward and wholeheartedly give her fiat, Father Dorsey acknowledged the courage required of so many first responders who place themselves in dangerous situations serving others.

“God has you go into those places that need strength, that are scary, when you don’t know what to do, doing your best hoping the authority with which you go into these places, and your experience can get the job done. That’s when we call on the Lord and He sends us His angels,” he said.

St. Michael is the patron of police, firefighters, soldiers and others who uphold justice. As a spiritual warrior and defender against evil, he protects those who go into some of the “darkest places”, Father Dorsey said, enabling them to answer the call to love and serve.

He acknowledged first responders are often present on people’s worst days to say, “God is here. It is the work of angels, but also what all of you do,” he said.

Father Dorsey also recalled those who lost their lives, sharing we can trust they intercede for us “as part of the fight to bring God’s justice to this world, of healing those who are broken, those who are sick, those who need help; of those who need strength to those who are afraid, who need that courage, and to remind us that we are not God. We are strengthened by Him. And when we enter into that fight against evil, it is not alone. It is with Him by our side.”

Watch a reel of Blue Mass here.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, October 02, 2025