Archdiocese honors area firefighters at annual Mass
November 10, 2015
HOUSTON — Every day, firefighters dedicate themselves to protecting the citizens of the Galveston-Houston area and their property.
On Sunday, Oct. 25, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston thanked and prayed for them at the annual Firefighter Mass. The Mass, sponsored by the St. Florian Society of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, was held at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza.
“The Mass is an opportunity for all Houston-Galveston area firefighters to pray with and for each other and to share their faith with each other and the community,” said Joseph Schmidt, Mass organizer and Houston firefighter. “This is a dangerous, high-risk profession. Our firefighters risk their lives for those they do not know and for possessions that are not theirs.”
He said support from family, friends and the community lets the firefighters know they are appreciated.
“By praying together we inspire and help each other to live and work as Christ would want us to,” Schmidt said.
During the Mass, a special tribute was given to firefighters who have passed away during the previous year. “Our firefighters are seen as heroes, but we need prayers. We hurt when our family of firefighters gets hurt, we suffer when our family members die. We pray for the souls of those we’ve lost and for their surviving family members,” he said.