WEIRTON — St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church will celebrate area first responders this week, with the observance of a Blue Mass.

The Mass will be held at noon Thursday at the parish, located at 229 California Ave. in Weirton.

Celebrated by the Rev. Dennis Schuelkens, the Blue Mass will be in tribute to local police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, members of the military and their families and be attended by students from St. Joseph the Worker Grade School, St. Paul Grade School and Weirton Madonna High School in addition to first responders and other invited guests.

A lunch reception will be held following the Mass at the St. Joseph the Worker School gymnasium.

According to event organizers, the first Blue Mass was celebrated Sept. 29, 1934, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., with 1,100 police officers and firefighters in attendance to honor the fallen members of their ranks.

The Mass took on a new significance following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with celebrations held throughout the United States.

This will be the eighth year a Blue Mass has been celebrated at St. Joseph the Worker in observance of the Sept. 11 anniversary.