During the season of Epiphany, Father Daniel and I had the honor of doing six house blessings for our parishioners. Truly, it was just as much a blessing for us as for the people and the homes involved. We enjoyed being able to sit and chat before beginning the blessing. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know St. John’s folks in their own homes. We thank all of you who opened your homes to us and to the Holy Spirit and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the Eastertide season. Below is an accounting by Dann Federico of one such blessing.
The Rev. Pam Renna | Assistant Priest
Would you like to schedule a house blessing?
On or about January 16th, I responded to this question in the announcements of the bulletin. We scheduled the blessing for the afternoon of the 29th. I figured it would be just a very simple event beginning on the front porch with maybe a walk around the house, with the sprinkling of holy water on the house and the saying of a prayer or two and my house would be blessed!
To my surprise and delight, it was not simple. When I answered the door, I was greeted by both Fr. Daniel and Rev. Pam. I welcomed them inside and they proceeded to explain how this event was going to take place. They brought a few prayer books, one for me to read from, the aspergillum, the vessel that carries and flings the holy water, their stoles and a small wooden box.
As we began, I learned that there was a separate prayer for each room of the house. I even had my part as well. Then there was the sprinkling of the holy water in each room. Whether it was the entrance, office, dining room, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, guess room and the like, a special prayer referred to the use of that room.
After the rooms were blessed, we concluded in the kitchen. They opened the wooden box that they had bought which contained the wine and hosts to be consecrated for holy communion. To me, it was like having church in my house.
Everything was so special, so holy. I realized I should not have worried about how clean my house was because they weren’t there to look at my “house;” they were there to bless my “home!” That’s what this is all about, the blessing of one’s home. Not the building, but the “home” in which you live with God. The blessing really highlights the fact that God is with you in your home all the time.
Being a new member of St. John’s, I want to strongly recommend that you, too, have your home blessed so that you will know that God is with you there as well as with you in church. Thank you very much, Fr. Daniel and Rev. Pam.
Dann Federico
Yes, you read this correctly, praise and worship isn’t just for church and it isn’t just on Sunday. Scheduling a house blessing is a special way to affirm that our God is with us wherever we go. If you’d like to schedule a house blessing during the Easter season, please call the parish office to set an appointment! (989-795-3-9575)