Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / At St. Sebastian, it's blessings for the pets, a van for the sisters
At St. Sebastian, it's blessings for the pets, a van for the sisters
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 10, 2008
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Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic
Parishioners of St. Sebastian Parish in Dearborn Heights hold their dogs as Fr. Jeffrey Day sprinkles them with holy water. |
Dearborn Heights There were four-legged creatures aplenty at this year's pet blessing at St. Sebastian Parish.
But the biggest surprise came on four wheels.
Last Wednesday, the parish gifted its two Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph with a new car a complete surprise to the sisters, who minister in the parish grade school.
"Words aren't adequate to tell how I feel," said Sr. Geraldine Kaczynski, FSSJ, principal of St. Sebastian School, who with her fellow Sr. Stephen Hadrych received the car. "This is such a surprise but to think that the whole parish knew about it. Children knew about it and didn't say anything? I can't believe it. I'm just overwhelmed."
The car a crossover version of the popular Ford Taurus that looks more like an SUV was presented to the sisters by pastor Fr. Jeffrey Day following the school liturgy to mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. After Mass, as dozens were gathered outside with their pets for the annual blessing, the vehicle was driven out from behind the church building, and Fr. Day handed the sisters the keys.
Parishioners on hand for the presentation voiced joy in seeing the sisters rewarded for their tireless efforts at the school and parish.
"They are wonderful ladies, dedicated to the kids, to the parish very, very wonderful women," said Rosann Gomez, who's known them for 24 years. "They give so much, and they don't ask for much in return." The sisters' need for a new vehicle was apparent, Fr. Day said. Their decade-plus-old minivan had been in the shop too frequently. And the sisters needed a reliable vehicle to travel to and from their provincial house in Hamburg, N.Y.
So this summer, while the sisters were away in Hamburg for a weekend, Fr. Day made the announcement at Mass that there would be a collection to buy them a new vehicle.
The response from parishioners, he said, was tremendous.
"They gave actually $4,000, in about a month's time or so and that was just with one announcement at Mass," Fr. Day said. "There was nothing in the bulletin or anything, and some of the parish doesn't know about it because they didn't hear the announcement. And I couldn't keep making the announcement because the sisters came home from being in Hamburg."
With the $4,000, and with some help from Village Ford in Dearborn, the parish made the down payment and acquired the Taurus last week.
Although St. Francis of Assisi's feast day actually was last Saturday, the school celebrated the liturgy mid-week so that the students could take part and could be on hand for the surprise. During Mass, Fr. Day reminded the congregation of the great blessings the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have been to the parish since the school was started back in 1952.
"St. Francis is a beautiful and wonderful example for us," he said during the homily. "The way his life is lived in our school on a daily basis is through the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph."
He told the school's students that they also can live with the virtues of St. Francis which the sisters spelled out as Fraternity, Service, Simplicity and Joy (a different acronym for FSSJ).
"We can all make St. Francis come alive if we can remember those special virtues," Fr. Day said.
A few of the school's students were allowed to bring their pets into the church for the liturgy. Outside, meanwhile, other parishioners brought theirs mostly dogs and cats.
"They're our family too, and they deserve their own church rites," said Janna Blair, holding a 7-month-old pug-beagle mix named Aella. Her husband, Donald, had the couple's other dog, Grizz a 5-year-old chocolate lab.
"It's a special day for them," Janna added. "They stay home on Sundays."
Jack Hall, 13, brought his black-and-white pet cat, Midnight, for a blessing for the first time. "We thought it'd be a good idea," Jack said. "She might be a little nicer."
After the new car was presented to the sisters, and blessed, Fr. Day also blessed the pets with holy water. The sisters said it was a holy day made even more memorable by a generous gift.
"I am just very grateful, very astounded by the generosity of the parishioners and of Father's wonderful surprise," said Sr. Hadrych. "My words are not sufficient enough to say how excited we are, how really, truly grateful."
She added, looking at the car, "We have to be absolutely careful as we always do. I always drive with St. Raphael and all the angels and pray the rosary all the way."
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