Annual Saint Florian Mass To Honor Firefighters Set For Oct. 22 Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick will celebrate the annual St. Florian Mass on Sunday, October 22, 2000, at 2:00 pm. The Mass will honor professional, volunteer, and retired firefighters from throughout the Archdiocese. Firefighters, fire chaplains, friends and family are invited to attend the Mass and lend their support. At this year's Mass, special recognition will be given to those fire departments that responded to and provided mutual aid coverage during the tragic fire at Seton Hall University in January. In commenting on the celebration, Archbishop McCarrick has stated: "The St. Florian Mass is a way to ask God to bless and protect all the men and women who risk their lives unselfishly every day to save others." Vicar of Pastoral Life for the Archdiocese of Newark, Msgr. Louis Fimiani commented that the celebration, "is an opportunity to recognize the bravery and valor of firefighters, and thank them on behalf of the Archdiocese." The following firefighters, who since 1998 have given their lives in the line of duty, will be honored at this year's St. Florian Mass: Ralph H. Jones, 37, of the Deptford Fire Department, Robert Stanmire, 52, of the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Company, Richard Heinze, 47, of the Newark Fire Department, Joseph Tagliareni Jr., 34, of the Secaucus Fire Department, Brian Andrew Lee, 38, of the Jersey City Fire Department, Walter Bitner, 38, of the Paterson Fire Department, and Stephen Gessler, 44, of the Little Falls Fire Department. St. Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters, was an officer of the Roman Army in the third century. He is said to have stopped a town from burning by throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze, hence his association with firefighters and those who protect us from fire. The Mass will be followed by a reception at The Archdiocesan Center. For more information, contact: Bergen
County: Lt. Diane King Tel: 201/941-9274
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