Shield a Badge

Support for our Law Enforcement and First Responders are needed now more than ever.Earlier this year, Police Officers and Health Care workers were hailed as Hero’s for being on the front line at the onset of the COVID19 pandemic.Then, almost over night, they were hated and attacked over the acts of a bad officer.Sadly, this has taken the toll of the all officers across this State.Officers are constantly on an emotional roller coaster every day.His or her senses have to be alert from making a traffic stop, to working a domestic disturbance, working a fatality accident to consulting someone whose house was just burglarized.Police officers come home mentally and physically drained and then do it all over again the next day.

The Shield a Badge program is designed to show local Law Enforcement Officers support through daily prayer.A prayer sponsor adopts an officer and prays every day for that Officer’s Safety, Good Judgment, and a Safe Return Home.

I am so proud that the Knights have embraced this program and are showing their support to all the police officers across this great State. There have been well over 100 councils across Texas who has started a Shield a Badge program in their community.Just in the past few months, councils have hosted Blue Masses, Prayer Vigils, Special Blessings, handed out St. Michael medals, and conducted cookouts just to name a few ways they are showing their support.

Supreme has announced its new “Pilgrim Icon Program” (which used to be called the Marian Icon Program) and the icon is St. Michael the Archangel.This is the patron saint of police officers.The official kick off for this program will be January 2021 and we should be getting the icons in December.When the icon is in your Diocese, consider hosting a Blue Mass or something similar in conjunction with the Icon.

Let’s continue to pray for all our Officers and First Responders, for their Safety, Good Judgment, and a Safe Return Home.Consider starting a Shield a Badge program at your council.For more information, please contact Pat Henz at pghenz@yahoo.com