A giant American flag, suspended from crisscrossed ladders jutting skyward from fire trucks parked on Temple Street next to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Sept. 24, alerted parishioners they were attending the annual Mass honoring the region's public safety personnel.

Dozens of police, fire, first responders and city officials, including Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, Los Angeles City Fire Chief William Bamattre and Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, were among a 10 a.m. capacity assembly led by Cardinal Roger Mahony.

Noting the presence of confirmation students from Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Pasadena, Cardinal Mahony said in his homily that public safety officials were excellent role models for maturing Christians.

"The Lord is asking you to serve others. When you look across the sanctuary, you've got a very good example of what that means --- men and women who give their whole lives, whole careers to one thing: to be generous and unwavering servants of others," said the cardinal.

"While we acknowledge and thank them and give them our deepest gratitude," he continued, "we also recall this is a very dangerous form of service. Since the Cathedral opened, we've had, sadly, too many funerals here for people in public safety and service: firefighters, sheriff's deputies, police officers. It's a vivid reminder that their commitment to public service goes way beyond what any of us are asked to do."

Disciples of Jesus, he added, live out their faith in generous service to one another in "all kinds of ways that require no training," such as visiting the sick and performing simple acts of kindness.

"The Lord Jesus will continue to pour out his Holy Spirit upon us," said the cardinal. "We need the support and prayers of one another. We need the great gift of the Eucharist, the body and blood of the Lord Jesus, because that is what keeps nourishing us, challenging us, fortifying us for our own journeys of life."

Following the homily, Cardinal Mahony asked the public safety personnel to stand and hold their official badges out for a special blessing. After the cardinal completed his walk through the cathedral sprinkling the raised badges with holy water, the congregation signaled their approval with a standing ovation.

Father Michael McCullough, LAPD/FBI chaplain and executive director of the Desert Refuge for Peace Officers, said the yearly Mass is a morale boost for public safety servants.

"The Mass gives people an opportunity to reflect [how] these guys and gals are really putting their life on the line for us," Father McCullough told The Tidings. "So, I think that comes through and there are very few times during the year when they really get acknowledged in a way that's so enthusiastic."

Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Gary Brennan, a parishioner at Holy Family in South Pasadena, said he attends the Mass every year. "Today, in particular was meaningful because the cardinal in his remarks was so gracious, and he hit on a theme that really is meaningful to most police officers: public service.

"It's one of the biggest reasons most of us go into the business. And for him to acknowledge that in his homily and use as an example for the confirmation class across the sanctuary I thought was very poignant," said Brennan.

Buena Park Police Sgt. Rich Peņa, a parishioner at St. Martin de Porres in Yorba Linda who served as a Eucharistic minister during the liturgy, said he brings a group from Orange County to the Mass every year. "The highlight of this service, for me, is that it brings brothers and sisters together," said Peņa.