Blue Mass At Co-Cathedral Prompts Freehold Twp. Traffic Advisory

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Township police, in anticipation of the 21st annual Blue Mass Thursday, have issued a traffic alert for the area.

The service, the first since COVID concerns forced cancellations in past years, will be held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road.

Police suggest anyone not attending the service and luncheon to avoid the area of Route 524 and Georgia Road, between Route 524 and Stone Hill Road, from 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

A heavy police presence, low-flying helicopters and heavy traffic congestion is expected, police said.

The Catholic Diocese of Trenton's 21st annual Blue Mass is at 10:30 a.m. The Mass honors the "dedication and sacrifices made by all active, retired, and deceased law enforcement personnel," according to the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police.

The Diocese says people of all faiths throughout Central New Jersey are invited to pray for law enforcement personnel who work to keep their communities safe at the Mass.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will serve as principal celebrant and homilist and will be joined at the altar with priests from across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Bagpipers, fife and drum corps members and color guard processions will once again be part of the day’s tribute.

Formally titled the Celebration of Law Enforcement, the event is organized by the Blue Mass Committee, the Diocese said.

Since COVID concerns forced the cancellation of the Blue Mass for the past three years, this year’s Mass will include the reading of names of those law enforcement personnel in the Diocese who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The Mass is open to the public. Anyone unable to attend the Blue Mass is invited to watch via Livestream at www.youtube.com\trentondiocese.