Annual Red Mass

In 2015, the Diocese of Paterson in association with ​the Paterson and other fire departments in Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties established the first Annual Firefighter's Red Mass, whose sole purpose was to honor those firefighters who have made the Supreme Sacrifice and the reception to follow is open to all including firemen from Passaic, Morris and Sussex Counties. The first mass occurred on October 8, 2015 and the second on October 2016 at St. Gerard Majella Church in Paterson.

A commemorative pin displaying the patron Saint of firefighters, St. Florian was provided

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Photo from the 2015 Red Mass

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Bishop Arthur Joseph Serratelli and his secretary Fr. Kevin Corcoran

Sounding of the Memorial bell: B/C Charles Onorato; in background, Captain Michael Trommelen

Patrick Ryan (PFD Chaplain), Chief Michael Postorino, Bishop Serratelli, Mayor Torres, DC Kevin Hancock, Fr Rijo Johnson (Pastor of St. Gerard's)

PFD Honor Guard: Capt. Scott Parkin, FF Saul Cintron, Capt. AJ Woods, Ret. Capt. Joseph Parkin Jr.

DC Brian McDermott leading the bagpipetrs

Retired Chief James Pasquariello

Retired FFs Joseph Parkin Sr. and Frank Calamita

Honor Guard Procession

October 9 Herald

2015 Red Mass Committee.  (L-R) is FF F. Petrelli Jr., B/C C. Onorato, Capt. M. Trommelen, D/C K. Hancock, June Fiduccia (Church Coordinator), Chief M. Postorino, FF Gerald Behnke, FF Kyle Hughes, and FF Robert Allen.  (missing from photo is Fr. Patrick Ryan).

2016 Red Mass Photos

Paterson Fire department Honor Guard: left to right are Captain AJ Woods, Frank Lozato, Luis Vega, Ronald Humphrey and Captain Scott Parkin

Entrance Procession

Clifton Chief Kevin McCarthy, Passaic Chief Patrick Trentacost Sr. & Paterson Chief Michael Postorino

Attendees

Supreme Sacrifice relatives at right: members of the Nicosia, Bittner, & Mancinelli Families

DC Michael Fleming & BC Charles Onorato

Fr. Leo Antony (Administrator - St. Gerard's), Fr. Patrick Ryan (PFD Chaplain), Monsignor James Mahoney and Fr. Brando Ibarra

May 3, 2016:  Blue Mass at St. Gerard's Church    

May 4 Herald

October 10, 2017

Insignia

2017 Red Mass Pin

Bishop Serratelli & Clergy with Fire Academy recruits

Clergy, Chief Postorino, DC Hancock and 2017-1 PFD. recruits

Wife and son of LODD Captain Frank Mancinelli

Lynne, wife of LODD FF Scott Rogow escorted by Ret Captain Joe Parkin Jr.

Wives of LODD FF John Nicosia & Walter Bittner

Ladder 2

Ladder 2 with 2017 class of Recruits

Chiefs of Passaic, Paterson and Clifton FDs

Passaic County Pipe and Drums

DC Brian McDermott

Chief Postorino & DC Ryan Murray

DC Kevin Hancock and Congressman Bill Pascrell

PFD Honor Guard

Ret. Captain Joe Parkin Jr of Honor Guard

Captain Scott Parkin of Honor Guard

Kyle Hughes State FMBA Northern District Vice President

BC Charles Onorato

Captain Scott Parkin Captain Mike Trommelen & FF Frank Petrelli

Paterson PBA President Alex Cruz, FF Lou Vega, & PFA President Gerry Behnke

Passaic County Pipe and Drums - DC Brian McDermott at right

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli and Father Patrick Ryan

PPD Motorcycle Squad

Passaic County Sherriff's Department

2017-1 Paterson Fire Dept. recruits

Following are clips from the Beacon (Newspaper of Paterson Diocese)

October 9, 2018:  4th Annual Red Mass:  The Mass Mass honored all LODD firefighters in the Diocese of Paterson with a special remembrance to Stanhope Firefighter Edward J. Frenenski who died in the line of duty on Oct. 23, 2017. 

Msg. Mark Giordani

L-R: Chief McDermott, Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost Sr., Clifton Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy, Totowa Fire Chief Richard Schopperth , Little Falls Fire Chief Jack Sweezy Jr. and retired Chief Pasquariello at rear

BC William Bucher, BC Gabriel Aboyoun, BC Orlando. Rodriguez, BC Alejandro Alicea-Lopez

L-R - Michael Hall (E4), Michael Caposella (E6), Beth Fournier-Melhourn, Michael Scherer (Communications) and Isaac Feliciano (Combustibles)

Honor Guard: Frank Lozada and Josue Lopez

Bittner family, Fred Aromona's son (Fred Jr.), Retired BC William Duncan, DC Norman Morley and Chief John Mauro

FF K. Powell & FF R. Humphrey

Chief Pasquariello and Mayor Sayegh

Clifton FD. Lieutenant Angelina Tirado father was LODD

Captain Mike Trommelen with his mother. Behind them (L-R) FF’s G. Chavez, R. Feliciano, J. Dejesus

Chief Brian McDermott and retired Chief James Pasquariello

FF Manny Vargas, Capt Santino Falcone (floating), Capt Jose Castro (E1), BC Gabe Abouyan (Chief;s staff), Capt Joe Bradley (Chief's Staff),

Captain Steve D’Arco (E3) back facing, clockwise FF Brian Hirschmanner R2 Sunglasses FF Chris Tiritilli R2 then FF Jesus Garcia E3

October 2018 - North Jersey news

Honor Guard member FF Kelly Powel of Engine 2

Chief McDermott at left and Totowa Chief Vincent Marciano at right

October 15, 2019: Red Mass: At St John's Cathedral

Honor Guard - ret B/C Joe Parkin Jr

Chiefs (PFD) Brian McDermott and PPD (Troy Oswalt)

B/C Mike Caposella

PFD Ladder 1 - Assistant Master Mechanic Antonio Diaz

Clergy with Memorial Bell on Table

Chief Brian McDermott at left & PPD Chief Troy Oswalt at right

Ret D/C Norman Morley

D/C Donn Langevin

Honor Guard - Ret. Captain Scott Parkin in ref

Honor Guard - Ret B/C Joe Parkin Jr in red

October 13, 2020:   St. John's Cathedral

October 22 Beacon

Bishop Sweeney (center), celebrant of the Diocese’s sixth annual Firefighters Mass on Oct. 13, poses with concelebrating priests, participating firefighters and the Passaic County Pipes and Drums Band after the liturgy on the steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson on Main St

A large American Flag is displayed suspended over Main St. in front of the Cathedral of St. John in Paterson, where the Diocese’s sixth annual Firefighters Red Mass was celebrated on Oct. 13

The Bishop looks at the large American flag that was suspended above Main St. in front of the cathedral by firefighters.

Paterson Fire Chief Brian McDermott plays “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes for the fallen firefighters honored at the Mass.

Firefighters hold their caps while standing for the procession at the start of the liturgy.

Bishop Sweeney (center) during the Consecration with concelebrants (from left): Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector and diocesan vicar of special projects, and Father Brendan Murray, a retired diocesan priest, who has served as a fire chaplain.

Family members of firefighters applaud at the end of the Mass.

. Passaic firefighters perform a “wrist bump” for the Sign of Peace.

A firefighter rings a bell in memory of fallen firefighters who were honored at the Mass

Passaic FD and PFD Ladder 1

PFD Honor Guard

Chief McDermott and D/C Stemler

October 19, 2021: Red Mass at St John's