Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Service and Sacrifice: Red, White and Blue Mass Honors Armed Forces

Posted on November 07, 2019 in: News

Service and Sacrifice:  Red, White and Blue Mass Honors Armed Forces

By Ryan Blessing
Photos by Annette Hanrahan

Men and women in uniform, from battle-tested veterans with decades of service to new cadets in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and ROTC programs, lined the pews at the Cathedral of St. Patrick during the 28th annual Red, White and Blue Mass on Sunday, November 3.

The Mass honored members of the Armed Services under the Department of Defense, as well as active, reserve and retired members of all the uniformed services. This year’s celebration also paid tribute to “Old Glory,” the popular moniker for the American flag.

The Reverend Thomas Hoar, the president and CEO of St. Edmund’s Retreat on Ender’s Island, was the celebrant and homilist. Father Tom is also the chaplain of the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

He told the story the late U.S. Sen. John McCain liked to tell of Michael Christian, a U.S. serviceman who was sent to a prison camp in Vietnam.

Using a bamboo needle and some thread from a Red Cross care package, Christian secretly sewed the United States flag on the inside of his shirt.

“Every morning after he was done, the prisoners would hang Michael’s shirt on the wall and pledge allegiance to the flag,” he said.

The prison guards found out and beat Michael Christian severely in front of the other prisoners. They ripped apart the flag and took Christian back to his cell.

“As soon as he could lift his arms and open his swollen eyes, he began to make another flag on another shirt,” Father Tom said.

He also addressed the young men and women in the Armed Forces.

“We need to pray that they not only do the jobs they are called to do, but that they do it as men and women of virtue.” 

Everyone has been given many good gifts, including freedom, he added.

“We’ve been given the gift of freedom from sin and death by Jesus Christ,” he said. “These gifts are precious, and they are fragile. They are easily lost if we lose sight of them.”

Gift-bearers represented each of the military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Merchant Marine and the Coast Guard.

Several special moments in the Mass centered on music, performed by Armed Services members.

The Coast Guard Academy Glee Club performed “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” and “Stand for Fallen Heroes.”

Trumpeters played “Taps” and “Reveille” to pay tribute to those service members who died in the line of duty. Many, including those with Connecticut ties who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, were listed in the program booklet for the Mass.

Near the end of the Mass the Mystic Highland Pipe Band took up formation in front of the altar and performed a stirring version of “Amazing Grace.”

Following the Mass, many of the service members and their families gathered again in the church hall for a luncheon and to reminisce about their time in the service of our country.

To see a photo gallery of the 2019 Red, White and Blue Mass, click here or on the photos.


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, Events

1374

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!
Middle School and High School youth are invited to a special hike with Bishop Reidy on Saturday, July 19th at 10:00 A.M. at Hurd State Park in East Hampton. Hurd State Park provides the perfect backdrop for a meaningful outdoor adventure, blending fun, exercise, scenic views, and moments of spiritual reflection. The park's flexible trails, peaceful riverside spots, and stunning overlooks make it an ideal place to connect with nature and one another. What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water, and a picnic lunch. Parents are welcome, and Youth Groups are encoura...

Read More

Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer Intention for the Month of June
Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful in St. Peter's Basilica, May 31, 2025. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA   In his first prayer intention video of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has asked the faithful to pray that the world might grow in compassion during the month of June. “Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his heart, learn to have compassion on the world,” the pope said in a video released June 3. The video also includes an original prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to which the m...

Read More

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, School News

1032

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators
There are several current job openings for educators in our diocese.  The positions are updated weekly, so be sure to bookmark this page in your browser-  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment Click Here to See the Current Open Positions  All candidates must complete the official professional application to be considered for a teaching position or principal position and submit it to the Diocesan School Office. Applications are available on the employment page of the website. Visit NorwichDiocese.org/Employment to view all of the open jobs in the di...

Read More

Pray for the Pope: Join the Sacred Heart Novena June 19–27
Knights of Columbus Launches Sacred Heart Novena for Pope Leo XIV New Haven, Conn. — The Knights of Columbus have announced a special novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the intention of Pope Leo XIV, beginning June 19—his anniversary of priestly ordination—and concluding June 27, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly is encouraging Knights, their families, and all people of goodwill to participate in the novena and to submit personal prayer intentions, which he will personally bring to Rome later this Jubilee Year. P...

Read More

Parish Bulletins Remain Relevant in the Digital Age
  Kristyn Figbie, communications coordinator for St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Britain, designs a Sunday bulletin that takes a more graphic approach to information with browsable tables and photos that capture the vitality of the parish community. Photo by Shelley Wolf   Parishes within the archdiocese are always looking for better ways to engage parishioners. To meet parishioners’ information needs and grab their attention, two parishes recently overhauled their Sunday bulletins with fresh new designs, more graphics and photos, and enhanc...

Read More

Public Policy Office of Catholic Church Scores Wins in State’s Legislative Session
The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference achieved “successes we were happy about” during the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session, according to Deacon David Reynolds, the Conference’s associate director for public policy.  “Legislation dealing with abortion, transgender rights and immigration reflected the conflict between existing state law and the recently revised federal laws and regulations,” he says. “The good news is the Conference’s efforts to stop harmful legislation in the areas of abortion and gender-affi...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Prayer for Our Nation
Marriage Encounter Experience- August 15-17
Calendar of Events

 

St. Vincent de Paul Place Norwich Celebrates New Elevator
Reconnect and Renew at the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience
End of Life Ministry Offers Free Cremation Boxes
Annual Report Finds There Are ‘Not Enough’ Deacons Being Ordained in the U.S.
Pope Leo XIV to Canonize Seven Saints on October 19th
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard F. Reidy
Click to view album: Students Called to Feed the Hungry
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294