Red Mass:
Edward Cardinal Egan,Bishop William Friend & Bishop-Elect Michael Duca to Participate

The Red Mass Society is honored to have Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, participate in the Red Mass this year. He will deliver the homily. Attending and concelebrating the Mass will be former Bishop of Shreveport, William B. Friend. Bishop-Elect of Shreveport Michael G. Duca will also be in attendance.

Red Mass will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport on Friday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m. This is a votive Mass offered to invoke the Holy Spirit as the source of wisdom, understanding, counsel and fortitude. Red Mass is sponsored annually by the Diocese of Shreveport and the Red Mass Society under the auspices of the Shreveport Bar Association.

Red Mass is celebrated throughout the world. It is generally held at the beginning of the judicial year but in Shreveport it is often celebrated during Law Week, U.S.A. Judges, lawyers, law enforcement officers and public officials of all faiths, and the public at large, participate in Red Mass. The primary purpose of Red Mass is to evoke God’s blessing and guidance in the administration of justice. The tradition of Red Mass dates back to thirteenth century Europe. It is called “Red Mass” for the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants of the Mass, which symbolize tongues of fire representing the Holy Spirit. In ancient times the robes of the attending judges were bright scarlet, thus providing an additional reason for the name Red Mass. In addition to delivering the homily at Red Mass, Cardinal Egan will speak at the Red Mass Banquet on Thursday evening.

Edward Michael Egan was born in Oak Park, IL, on April 2, 1932. He was ordained a priest on December 15, 1957. After filling many roles and serving in many administrative capacities during his priesthood, Pope John Paul II appointed him as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York on April 1, 1985. Subsequently His Eminence became Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Cardinal Egan was appointed Archbishop of New York on May 11, 2000. He was elevated to Cardinal on February 21, 2001. He continues in that capacity notwithstanding having reached the “mandatory” retirement age of 75. Cardinal Egan was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.

The Red Mass Society will host a banquet in honor of both Cardinal Egan and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal Calogero on Thursday evening, May 1, at East Ridge Country Club. Bishop Friend will attend the banquet as well. Anyone wishing to attend the banquet is asked to contact Don Miller (222-9417) for ticket information. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend Red Mass and the Red Mass Banquet.

by Bill Fleming, Shreveport Attorney and Red Mass Committee Member