MILLINOCKET – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland will hold a Green Mass for environmental workers at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, at St. Martin of Tours.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will preside at the event, the first of its kind in Maine.

The Green Mass will honor all who work to protect the environment, according to a diocesan press release, including people who work in environmental studies, forest and land management, environmental protection, wildlife management and conservation and park management.

Deacon Daniel Watson of East Millinocket is helping to organize the event. He worked as a game warden for 25 years before being ordained to the permanent deaconate. Watson said environmental workers of all faiths would be welcome to attend.

Watson said that while working a conservation enforcement officer, he would have welcomed such an event.

“It would have been nice to know that someone a, does care; b, is praying for me and, c, is therefore working with me. I would have appreciated that.”

The bishop is expected to express the church’s thanks for their services to the common good and to invoke God’s blessing upon all who serve and protect the natural beauty of Maine, according to the press release.

Once a year, the diocese celebrates a White Mass to honor people who work in health care, a Red Mass for those in the legal profession and a blue Mass for first responders, police and firefighters. The Green Mass is expected to become an annual event.