Communities benefit from Faith & Blue initiative

MARY STADNYK  Associate Editor

Faith leaders and law enforcement officials enjoy sharing a common mission of serving the wider community. When opportunities arise for the two groups to work together, it’s the community that benefits.

from the Manasquan Ministerium, comprised of 12 Christian churches, was expanded to include more opportunities for both educational presentations and prayer experiences throughout the year.

Father Lago said that additional events that have been held to date include an ecumenical Thanksgiving prayer service in November in St. Denis Church. Law enforcement officials were present, and it was a time “for us to give thanks to God for their service to the community.” and other services so that the people in the community will get to know the officers.

A second event, he noted, was the highly successful Christmas toy drive that was driven by the collaboration between the Manasquan Ministerium and the two police departments, which generated an overwhelming amount of toys collected for children – toddlers to teenagers.

“All of the feedback about Faith & Blue and what we are aiming to achieve is positive,” said Chief Bauer.

Father Lago said another positive about Faith & Blue is the relationships that are forged between the clergy and the police officers. If a police officer ever needed a minister or priest to speak with, “we would be there for him,” Father Lago said, noting that the conversation would remain confidential.

Also, if a police officer was in a situation where he realized someone would benefit from having the presence of a priest or minister, “he has our contact information and would know how to get in touch with us.”

That’s the ultimate hope that two neighboring coastal Monmouth County parishes – St. Denis, Manasquan, and St. Mark, Sea Girt, have – to strengthen community ties through their participation in a collaborative endeavor called Faith & Blue.

Father Bill Lago, pastor of St. Denis Parish, explained that Faith & Blue is a national initiative aimed to build bridges between the police and community members. But the scope of Faith & Blue broadened to include houses of worship when it was realized that both the police and the clergy often interact when tending to the needs of a particular community.

Father Lago explained that, though Faith & Blue has a designated weekend each year when the police officers and houses of worship come together and host community activities, the initiative that was created among the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office and clergy

To get the word out about Faith & Blue, Michael Bauer, the retired chief of the Manasquan Police Department and a member of St. Denis Parish, said that officers make themselves visible around the church communities during various events and address congregations during Masses

Another bond between the ministers and the police, Father Lago noted is that in being ministers to the community, “we experience life in a different way.”

“We are present to the people during some very challenging and difficult times,” he said, and “in our own ways we are there to offer them the strength of Jesus in those times.”

Diocesan Blue Mass April 13

Each year the Diocese of Trenton sponsors the Celebration of Law Enforcement, or Blue Mass and Luncheon, to honor and support law enforcement personnel who serve in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. This year’s event will be held April 13 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold

Law enforcement of all faiths are invited to attend. Faithful throughout the Diocese are invited to join in prayer for all law enforcement on this special day and to watch the livestream of the Mass on the diocesan Youtube channel at https://youtube.com/trentondiocese

For more information, visit bluemass.org.