Students at St. Philip Neri School in Bedford Park want first responders to know how much their service means to them. On Jan. 31, more than 50 first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were invited to attend a special mass at St. Philip Neri Church, located right next to the school. The first responders ate breakfast with students in the parish hall, and later went on a tour of the school.

 

“It was fun,” said sixth grader Katherine Mundo, who had a very personal reason to be appreciative of those assigned with protecting the community. “My mom’s a cop, and I view her from a very high point,” said 11-year-old Katherine.

 

The event started with the pomp and ceremony of the NYPD Pipes and Drums Band, filling the church’s main hall with the distinctive sound of bagpipes as they entered and marched to the front.

 

This was followed by the department’s Color Guard and the invited guests then saw a procession of officers and other first responders take their seats. The multi-faith audience later heard a sermon, prayers, and some of the faithful participated in the Communion service.

 

Some students were tasked with reading passages from the Scriptures at the podium. Fifth-grader Kaily Rosado, 10, was one of those privileged to read aloud.  Poised and composed, she read her assigned passage to the audience of several hundred seated in the main stage of the church.

 

Later, she admitted to feeling tense before her turn came to speak. “I was really nervous,” Kaily said. She then shared a tip with Norwood News on how to overcome nerves when speaking in public. “I was nervous, but I just thought about my family, my friends, and my principal,” she said.

Kaily’s mother is a nurse. We asked her how the various first responders showed their appreciation to students for the mass and breakfast. She had a simple answer. “They smile and shake my hand,” she said.

 

The attendees included officers from all 12 precincts in The Bronx, according to Community Affairs Officer Stephen Echevarria at the 52^nd Precinct. “Every Bronx precinct was represented, including Patrol Borough Bronx and the chief of the Bronx Philip Rivera was here as well.”

 

Meanwhile, Katherine’s mother, Tanya Marcial, was in attendance and not only felt the appreciation for her work as a police officer from her daughter, but from other students as well. “[This event] helps the children understand what it means to be a first responder,” said Marcial. “The way the children receive us, it’s welcoming and very warm.”

 

One interaction that Marcial witnessed was particularly poignant. “I saw two little boys speaking to some officers and they were very interested in the equipment,” she said. “They were able to touch the handcuffs and after they finished speaking with the officers, I overheard them speaking with each other.

 She said, she heard them say, “Wow, they felt so real, so heavy.” Marcial added, “Hopefully that sparks some kind of interest going forward [and] maybe going forward, in the future, they will decide to join the department.”

 

Echevarria acknowledges that it is not always possible to get this close to the youngest members of the community and hear them out. He had some words of appreciation for events like the mass and breakfast.

 

“It’s an amazing thing that St. Philip Neri School does for our officers,” he said.  “Not only here for the 52^nd Precinct but the whole borough of The Bronx. It really shows how much they care about the police and community relations…. We’re grateful to be here today.”