Wednesday, September 16, 2009

DAYTON DEANERY — In memory of those public safety personnel who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks and to honor all police, fire and emergency medical personnel, Knights of Columbus Marian Council #3754 sponsored a Blue Mass on Sept. 12 at St. Rita Church in Dayton.

Father William O’Donnell, pastor, was the celebrant, and Father Kenneth Baker, pastor of St. Paul Parish in Englewood and chaplain of the Englewood Fire Department, concelebrated.

The council presented its “Blue Coat of the Year Award” to Englewood firefighter/paramedic Joyce Bachmann, a 30-year veteran of the fire service who was among the first responders to the 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero. She heads the public education division of the Englewood Fire Department and assists both St. Rita and St. Paul parishes with housekeeping duties and serves as sacristan at St. Rita.