For immediate Release: 75th annual San Francisco Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass brings city together in prayer

Today, the Archdiocese of San Francisco along with the San Francisco Fire, Police, and Sheriff’s Departments held the 75th annual Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass at St. Anne of the Sunset Catholic Church. 

The Police-Fire-Sheriff Mass originated as an annual way to honor the firefighters who lost their lives during the 1946 Herbert Hotel Fire and continues to honor all first responders.

Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco thanked the first responders for their many sacrifices for the safety and well-being of the City of San Francisco. 

“You all, my dear brothers and sisters in uniform, take the risk [of putting your life on the line] every day. A risk that often goes unrecognized and unappreciated. But we in this church today, we are here to pray with you and for you to say thank you.“

Civic leaders joined religious leaders for the Mass. The dignitaries present included: 

Mayor’s Office
San Francisco Mayor London Breed

Sean Elsbernd, Mayor’s Chief of Staff

State Senate

Senator Scott Wiener

City Attorney’s Office 
City Attorney David Chiu

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman

Supervisor Myrna Melgar

San Francisco Fire Department 
Fire Commission President Stephen Nakajo
San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson

Retired Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White

San Francisco Police Department 
Assistant Chief David Lazar

San Francisco Sheriff Department 

Member of the Sheriff’s Oversight Board Julie D. Soo

San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto

San Francisco Park Rangers

Chief David P. Murphy 

SF Interfaith Council

Michael Pappas

The Archbishop’s full homily is available upon request and will be posted online later today at www.sfarch.org. 

Read more about the history of the Mass: Uniform Solidarity – Archdiocese of San Francisco

Photo: Dennis Callahan, Archdiocese of San Francisco

Media contact: Mary Powers, [email protected]