St. Anthony’s held a Blue Mass. Courtesy | Facebook

“The numbers 4-0-3 will always haunt me,” Deacon Donald Michael said in his homily, because he learned about the death of Hillsdale County Deputy William Butler Jr. on June 27 at 4:03 p.m. 

Michael spoke at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Sept. 11 during a “Blue Mass” to honor the life and work of Butler.

“Blue Mass is the name given to a Mass celebrated for those in public service — police, conservation officers, corrections officers, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, and other public service officials,” said Jamie Wisniewski, the chief assistant prosecutor of Hillsdale County, who suggested the idea of the Mass.

Butler was shot on duty at a traffic stop. He was transported to the hospital, where he died. Butler had served in the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. His funeral was held at Hillsdale College’s Christ Chapel on July 3.

“There are lonely moments among those of us who walk the thin blue, red, yellow, white, and gray lines,” said Michael, who also is a police chaplain. “It is these moments when we need to reflect upon Christ’s lesson on the mount.”

Junior Andrew Winter attended the Mass, and he said he appreciated the significance of it being held on Sept. 11. 

“The homilist brought home the tragedy of 9/11 by telling the story of a local law enforcement officer,” Winter said.

Winter said that he did not know that the Mass was going to be in honor of the deputy until the homily began, but he was pleased to see that the Mass honored Butler’s life.

“Billy put his trust and love in a God who saves us from ourselves,” Michael said. “A God that is present, no matter how difficult life can get. A God that does not look away from our pain and suffering. A God — in the person of Christ — who understands too well the injustice that comes with the killing of an innocent man.”