At 2:00 in the afternoon animals came from near and far to be blessed by Fr. Bonaventure Bai, OFM.  A squirrel, a crow and a chipmunk had been visiting the barn all week looking for the blessing and watching the workmen; at times, even venturing inside to see what the men were doing to their winter home.  Alas, on the day of the Blessing, there were too many dogs present and the ‘wild ones’ wisely decided to skip the festivities.  Sr. Arlene McGowan provided a beautiful blessing prayer, complete with a poem, The Rainbow Bridge, as a memorial to pets that have died.  Fr. Bonaventure blessed each animal individually…and then we provided treats for animals and owners alike.

At 4:00 pm, we gathered again, this time inside the atrium of the Barn to participate in the Blessing of The Centennial Barn with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Rabbi Kari Hofmaister and Buddhist Monk Jamyang Lama, adding considerable eccesial authority to the occasion! It was incredible to experience the blessings offered by each of these three religious leaders representing three different faith traditions. Sr. Tiziana Merletti’s presence added to the joy and importance of the gathering.

We are all familiar with the Catholic prayer and blessing with holy water and incense -- and with our Catholic roots coming from the Jewish tradition, the Hebrew prayers recited in both Hebrew and English sounded beautiful. However, it was the Buddhist blessing that held the most mystery for many of us. Jamyang Lama wrapped a saffron cloth over his simple brown robes and chanted a Buddhist blessing, periodically punctuating the prayer with the ringing of a brass bell and throwing rice and rose petals into the air.

We were looking to discover the meaning of what we experienced, so we asked Lama Jamyang about the meaning. He said: “Ringing a bell as part of a blessing is a way of clearing the dead air and increasing the flow of energy in the space. The gentle sound corrects the negative effects of traffic sounds and harsh noises and brings balance back into the environment. Moreover, the healing tones release blockages in our bodies, minds and spirits, bringing a sense of healing and peace into our lives. Rice and roses are the traditional elements used to bless new beginnings. The rice is a symbol of fertility and prosperity (fertility of our ideas...hopes for our mission at the Barn). The roses symbolize great spiritual blessings.”

An inter-faith Blessing of our Centennial Barn inaugurates not only a new ministry for us as Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and SFP Associates, but also – because it was held so close to the feast of St. Francis -- roots our efforts at community building and ministry deep within our Franciscan Tradition.

- Jo-Ann Jackowski, SFP; Photos by Sr. Arlene McGowan