By Michaela Bishop
Northeast News
October 7, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Military personnel and law enforcement put their lives on the line daily for their community and country.

So on the last Sunday of September, St. Anthony’s Catholic church invited the Northeast community to honor and send prayers to all law enforcement personnel and active military who strive to keep us safe on a day-to-day basis during the church’s Blue Mass. Cathy Hernandez, director of religious education for St. Anthony’s, said she admires Kansas City’s law enforcement and the country’s military members.

“They work so tirelessly,” Hernandez said. “They are very supportive to the community.”

The mass was conducted by Rev. Paul Turner, who explained they decided to start holding Blue Masses as a way to thank law enforcement and military members.

“We need to reflect on the goodness of people who put their lives at risk for ours,” Turner said.

Jason Cooley, public information officer for Kansas City’s East Patrol Division, said he felt honored to have been invited to the event.

“We all have an interest on safety in our community,” Cooley said. ”Not one person is going to have the impact that we will all have together.”

Immediately after the Blue Mass, St. Anthony’s held a Coffee with a Cop, where community members were offered the opportunity to talk with the officers in attendance. Cooley explained that events like Blue Mass and Coffee with a Cop allow him, as well as other police officers, to build partnerships with the community. Cooley added the event helped show the human side of officers to the community.

“Our main goal is to show the community that we are available to them,” Cooley said. “We want to show everyone that we have families and live lives, too. We also want to be part of their families, as well.”

Catherine Van Ryckeghem, president of the Altar Rosary Society, said she was able to talk to Cooley about the new East Patrol Division station. She added she hopes next year’s Coffee with a Cop will have a better attendance and that the event itself keeps growing.

“This year was pretty successful,” Van Ryckegham said. “Everyone seemed to be having friendly conversations with the police officers who attended this year.”