Archdiocese of Newark to Honor the EMS Community & Firefighters in Two Masses

The Most Rev. John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, will recognize the strong contribution of the members of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) community and Firefighters and their families on Sunday, April 24 , 2005 . The two Masses will be celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, located at the corner of Victoria & Clifton Avenues in Newark, and honor those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Starting at 12 noon , the third annual EMS Mass is open to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics (EMT-Ps) of all faiths. The ninth annual St. Florian Mass for firefighters will begin at 3 p.m. ; firefighters, fire chaplains, friend and family are invited to attend the Mass and lend their support. At each service attendees are asked to be seated 15 minutes early for the presentation of colors and National Anthem.

Since the last Mass, the following EMS & Firefighters have fallen in the line of duty:

Lieutenant Leslie W. Gant
Winslow Township Fire Department
January 8 , 2004

Firefighter Glenn Galderisi
Pompton Falls Fire Department
February 4 , 2004

Captain Tom Conway
Haddon Heights Fire Department
August 8 , 2004

Deputy Chief James D'Heron
New Brunswick Fire Department
September 3 , 2004

Firefighter William Jim Lightbody
Paramus Rescue Squad
September 18 , 2004

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“Both Masses allow our firefighters and EMS workers and volunteers, and their families and friends, the opportunity to pray for their continued safety as they perform this most important duty in our community, as well as to remember those who have lost their lives saving others,” said Archbishop Myers.

Donna Buscio of Barnegat , NJ will received the 2005 St. Florian Award of the Archdiocese of Newark. Her late husband Captain Dominick Buscio, was a Jersey City Fire Captain for 18 years. It was after his death that Mrs. Buscio learned of the statistics of the number of firefighter fatalities and how few firefighters get adequate physical examinations.

“The thought of more firefighter families enduring a preventable and inconceivable loss such as ours inspired my passion to found A Gift from Captain Buscio , a statewide firefighter's health program which offers strictly confidential and convenient cardio-pulmonary health examinations specific to the firefighting occupation,” said Mrs. Buscio.

The program is now available to all firefighters statewide.

St. Florian was an officer in Roman army in the third century, and is said to have stopped a town from burning by throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze. He is now associated with the men and woman who protect us from fire, specifically firefighters.

More information about the Masses are available by calling ( 973 ) 497 - 40 13 or on the web at EMS and St. Florian's Mass