Norwich — The Rev. Jonathan Ficara, parochial vicar and campus minister of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Storrs, spends much of his time with UConn students, some of whom wondered about his connection to law enforcement.

Why, they wanted to know, had the “the baby priest” — the 29-year-old Ficara was ordained only last year — been asked to deliver the homily Sunday at the Diocese of Norwich’s 25th annual Blue Mass? Celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, the Mass calls for St. Michael the Archangel to protect police officers and their families.

“I told them about my father, Santo, for 37 years an officer in Manchester, and my sister, Jessica, a police officer in Wethersfield,” Ficara said. “They said, ‘Oh, you know what it’s like.’ ”

Indeed, in his youth, “ride-alongs with dad were big,” Ficara said, though he never liked them as much as his two brothers and his sister did.

“They really enjoyed the (police) work," he said. "For me, it was more challenging. On days when not much was happening in Manchester, my dad would apologize that it was so slow. I’d think, ‘Thank God.’ ”

His father was excited by circumstances Ficara found terrifying. And in those moments, Ficara said, “I saw him give us himself completely,” policing out of love, entrusting his safety to God.

“Let us be mindful of the great sacrifice and love of those who serve,” Ficara said.

Santo Ficara, who retired as a sergeant in Manchester, now serves as chief of police for the state Judicial Branch.

The Most Rev. Michael Cote, Bishop of Norwich, celebrated Sunday’s Mass, welcoming his predecessor as bishop, the Most Rev. Daniel Reilly, retired Bishop of Worcester, Mass., who revived the Blue Mass tradition at St. Patrick’s in 1991. Reilly's introduction was greeted by applause.

According to a history written by Wilfred Blanchette, retired Groton City police chief, St. Michael the Archangel Church of Pawcatuck began celebrating a special Mass for Stonington police officers in the 1970s. After several years, the tradition was suspended.

On June 5, 1991, a committee of priests from the Norwich diocese gathered in Pawcatuck to plan a Mass for law enforcement officers. The meeting took place on the very day that Russell Bagshaw, a 28-year-old state trooper, was shot to death after interrupting a burglary at a North Windham gun shop. The tragedy prompted the committee to dedicate its work in planning the Blue Mass to Bagshaw’s memory.

Since then, the theme of the Mass has ranged from memorializing the lives and service of fallen officers to honoring the contributions and sacrifice of officers’ spouses and family members.

In addition to Reilly and Blanchette, honorary chairmen of the Mass were retired state police Capt. Eugene Sullivan, retired state police Maj. Richard Wheeler, New London Detective Frank Jarvis, former Middletown Deputy Police Chief Philip Pessina and Trooper First Class Victor Lenda Jr.

Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro Sr. and Groton Town Police Chief Louis Fusaro Jr. chaired the Blue Mass Committee.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck