“Blue Mass” for Gleichen RCMP

Posted on: November 21, 2019November 21, 2019 Staff Writer

From edition: November 22 2019 Strathmore Times

By Brad Everett Times Contributor

St. Andrew Anglican Church in Gleichen held a Blue Mass on Nov. 17 to honour the members of the Gleichen RCMP detachment for their service and ask God’s blessing and protection. Back row: Const. Mat Graham (l-r), Const. Victor Tudose, Const. Frank Hatcher. Front row: Staff Sgt. Tim Kelly (l-r), Corp. Marty Reed, Const. Kayla DeMort, Fr. Brad Everett, Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman. Photo Courtesy of Linda Holt

Over 30 people attended the Blue Mass at St. Andrew Anglican Church in Gleichen on Nov. 17 to honour the members of the Gleichen RCMP detachment for their service and ask God’s blessing and protection.
A Blue Mass is a church service to recognize and give thanks for the service of local police – the blue referring to the typical colour of police uniforms.
Fr. Brad Everett and Regional Dean Rev. Dr. Kyle Norman led the eucharist service, which was attended by six of the Gleichen RCMP members.
Following the prayers, Staff Sgt. Tim Kelly and Corporal Marty Reed read the RCMP honour roll – the names of the 239 members who died in the line of duty from the RCMP’s inception to the present.
The parish organized the mass as a way to recognize not just the service and contribution of the local detachment and its members to this community, but also the sacrifice that this requires of the members’ families.
Following the service, there was a supper in the hall, hosted by members of St. Andrew parish.
The parish hopes to make this service an annual event, possibly on the Sunday following Remembrance Day.