In 1934, a Catholic Priest by the name of Thomas Dade from Baltimore, Maryland Archdiocese initiated the Catholic Police and Firemen's Society while stationed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. About 1,100 police and firemen dressed in blue uniforms marched into St. Patrick's Catholic Church for the celebration of the First Blue Mass on September 29th, 1934.

The Blue Mass became an annual tradition in the Northeastern Cities of the United States. Bishop Norbert Dorsey, of the Diocese of Orlando joined in the tradition on October 5, 2001 by celebrating the First Annual Blue Mass at the Cathedral of St. James in Orlando. Over 500 men and women in blue from law enforcement and fire-rescue joined the Bishop for this special liturgical celebration. A luncheon followed in the Parish Center.