Days After Officer's Death, Denver Blue Mass Offers Prayer and Hope for First Responders
At the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver Archbishop James Golka led prayers for fallen Lakewood Police Agent Nicholas Graham and encouraged first responders to find strength in Christ amid the sacrifices of their calling.
“Amazing Grace,” played by Scott Hughes, a retired Denver Police Department (DPD) sergeant and bagpiper with a black band over his badge to indicate a recently fallen officer, echoed through Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception following the 2026 Blue Mass.
Three nights earlier, a different bagpiper with the department, Denver Police Detective Rob Foster, pierced the darkness and intense grief with the same song as hundreds of metro area first responders stood at attention to honor fallen Lakewood Police Agent Nicholas Graham.
“We escorted the family behind the body of our deceased brother,” said Deacon Ernie Martinez, archdiocesan director of deacons and a chaplain with the DPD, having retired as a commander himself.
“We walked the halls that were lined up with officers on both sides, shoulder to shoulder, through lengthy hallways at Denver Health Medical Center,” recalled Deacon Martinez, describing the somber and prayerful journey taken before TV cameras captured their emergence in the cold night air. The DPD answered the call to serve when Agent Graham, who was shot in Lakewood, was brought to receive care at Denver Health, a Level I trauma center.
“We had first response from all over the metro area cordoning the route all the way to Jefferson County, as well as following in respect for the family and our fallen comrade,” he said.
A Blue Mass, like the one held just days after this tragedy, is a traditional Catholic Mass celebrated annually to pray for all first responders. The date had been scheduled long before the Thursday when Agent Graham gave his life, but the sad timing gave first responders, their families, the larger community and the Church a timely opportunity to support those who put their own lives on the line every day.
“It is a great honor to be able to offer this Mass on behalf of so many of you whom we admire and love and appreciate, and today we simply want to lift you up to God to support you even more,” Denver Archbishop James Golka said in his homily, before inviting those gathered to pray in silence for Agent Graham and his family.
“We are all servants of God, especially when we do whatever duty corresponds to our state in life,” the archbishop said, explaining that even secular jobs like those of first responders can be holy when God calls us to them. “You first responders have a very special role. You are, many times, the only wall of protection between people in our communities and all that would do them harm.”
Retired DPD Sergeant Scott Hughes plays the bagpipes at the conclusion of the 2026 Blue Mass.
(Photos by Matt Walker/Denver Catholic)
Blue Masses are named after the traditional dark blue worn by police officers and many other public safety workers. Such Masses are held to honor, support and bless police, firefighters, correctional officers, emergency medical service workers, sheriffs, 911 operators, dispatchers and more.
The archbishop was joined by other archdiocesan priests and first-responder deacons also served at the Blue Mass. A police officer and firefighter served as lectors.
“In these days, the world is searching for Jesus, even if it doesn't know it. In these days, we first responders are oftentimes searching for Jesus, too,” said Deacon Derrick Johnson of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Denver, a captain in the Denver Fire Department. “And today, we came to ask Jesus to give us the grace to continue in the battle.”
The readings at the Blue Mass centered on wisdom, a vital spiritual gift, especially for first responders. In response to times that don’t make sense, the archbishop explained that all of us, first responders included, don’t need to embark on a difficult search for wisdom. Instead, we only need to ask God for it because Jesus, who is true Wisdom, always wants to find us.
“We often think that our faith is: ‘I have to go find Jesus. He's hiding somewhere,’” Archbishop Golka said. “My experience? I’m hiding. I don’t mean to, but I do. And Jesus comes and finds me — he finds us — and brings us back to peace and to joy. “
“So many times in life, you get busy and caught up,” said Denver Police Commander Joe Engelbert, who found peace in the archbishop’s words. “God is always looking for you. And that's what I took from this homily today: Jesus meets you where you are.”
Commander Engelbert was one of many in attendance who left renewed.
“This means a lot. I think people often forget that, as first responders, we need people to uplift us,” said Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas, one of several non-Catholics who gratefully accepted the invitation to join in prayer at the Blue Mass. “We look forward to this. It's great that the church takes a moment to recognize us and uplift us.”
This year's Blue Mass highlighted a powerful aspect of being a first responder and a Christian, Deacon Martinez noted.
“At the Cross, Mary and the beloved disciple stayed," Deacon Martinez said. "I’ve thought about that as a retired cop and as a deacon. There are moments when staying is the most important thing you can do. Last Thursday night was one of those moments. After the Blue Mass, as people of faith, we’ll keep showing up for the family and for the families who have been carrying this grief for years.”
For their efforts keeping the community safe, working toward justice and serving others, Archbishop Golka expressed profound gratitude.
“Thank you for responding to a call to serve the common good, to build a just society, and to protect the vulnerable,” Archbishop Golka said, offering the first responders his thanks on behalf of a grateful church. “We know that responding to it sometimes comes at a great personal cost to you; tragically, and gratefully rarely, the cost of your life. We know your spouses and families also make sacrifices that allow you to serve us so devotedly. And so, with grateful hearts, we thank you for stepping up to this task with courage and integrity, imperfectly, day by day, month by month, year after year.”
