Bishop Scharfenberger will celebrate the traditional Red Mass for legal professionals on Friday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m. at Historic St. Mary’s Church, 10 Lodge St., Albany. Professionals from all faith backgrounds are invited to attend.

The Red Mass, which originated in France and England in the Middle Ages, became a tradition in the United States in 1928. The Mass invokes the blessing of the Holy Spirit on all those working in the legal system. The name of the Mass comes from the red vestments worn by clergy and the scarlet robes worn by judges in 13^th-century England.

The Mass is sponsored by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese of Albany. For further information on the Red Mass or the Catholic Lawyers Guild, contact Peter R. Kehoe, Esq. at pkehoe18@gmail.com.