Red Mass at Cathedral of the Madeleine

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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A Red Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Oct. 7, the 15th year for this tradition, which traces its roots back to the 13th century. the Red Mass traditionally is celebrated to mark the opening of the judicial year, to for all members of the legal profession. The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in Paris in 1245; the first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated in Saints Peter and Paul Church in Detroit Michigan. At the Oct. 7 event, Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy, presided at the Mass. The Very Rev. Langes Silva, judicial vicar, and the Very Rev. Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral, concelebrated. On behalf of Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who was out of town, Fr. Vialpando thanked and congratulated all of those at the Mass “for the many ways in which you go out of your way to unite and to build a stronger community here in the state of Utah and around the world.” The Oct. 7 Mass also commemorated numerous members of the diocese’s legal and first responder communities who died during the last year.