The half-hour of blessings turned into an hour when more than 100 cars lined up outside St. Joseph Church in Charlton Saturday afternoon. Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor, invited parishioners to come to church for a special blessing during the time Saturday’s Mass would usually be held. Since Masses have been suspended due to the coronavirus, Father Grattaroti wanted to gather his flock this way so that they would know he had them in his prayers.
He also wanted to keep everyone safe, so with an army of volunteers, regular parish ushers, the cars were ushered one-by-one under the portico at the front of the church. People got out of their cars and went to the side window where Father Grattaroti greeted them with air-hugs and kisses and imparted a blessing on them during this challenging time.
Families, couples, individuals, and even a dog, approached the window where Father Grattaroti was standing. There was a basket of blessed prayer cards outside the window and another basket where people could leave their weekly offerings. The prayer was the diocesan Prayer in Time of Pandemic which asks God to "deliver us from this time of trial." It also asks for blessings on all doctors, nurses, researchers and public servants.
The blessing line is scheduled again for Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.
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