...and for all who keep us safe

Every Sunday as we pray the prayers of the faithful at Mass we include an intention for firefighters, police officers, our military and for all those who keep us safe. All too often, we take for granted the contributions of public servants. Oh yes, we get mad at police officers when they pull us over, even though we are breaking the law. And we love to make jokes about the police cruisers as they sit in front of the donut shop. Yet most of us have no idea what they go through, what danger they are really in or how many lives they may have saved today or last night.

I have read with great sadness the stories of the massacre in Lakewood, Washington that took the lives of four police officers, all at a coffee shop preparing reports or perhaps checking emails on their computers. A deranged killer calmly walked into the shop and executed these dedicated servants. For the most part, they were all young and left behind family in sheer grief, including many young children.

Sgt. Mark Renninger was only 39 and leaves behind a wife and 3 children. Officer Ronald Owens, just 37 years old, leaves behind a little girl. Officer Tina Griswold was 40 years old and leaves a husband and two children. Remarkably, just a few months ago she was awarded a life-saving medal. And finally, Officer Greg Richards, 42, leaves behind a wife and 3 children. That's 3 spouses and 9 children who now have their personal world turned upside down because of a deranged killer. And all because these police officers were dedicated to serving the community and to keep that community safe.

The reason for this post is not to question why or to even comment endlessly on the horrific deed of the killer. Let this post remind us all that in each and every community where we live, work and worship there are those brave men and women who work to keep us safe. They are our friends and neighbors; they are police officers, firefighters, first responders, national guardsmen and military personnel. They deserve our support and more importantly our prayers.

Ask your parish to include a weekly, if not daily, intention for all who keep us safe...

Officers Renninger, Owens, Griswold and Richards; may your souls rest in peace. Amen.