Catholic clerics begin Easter house blessings

KOHIMA — The clergy members of St. Francis de Sales (SFS) Parish in the state capital began their Easter house blessings following Easter Sunday by visiting numerous homes of the faithful by offering prayers and performing religious rituals.

In an interview with Eastern Mirror on Sunday, Rev. Fr. Vinod Varghese, the assistant priest of SFS, elaborated on the significance of the house blessings. He articulated that the purpose of the Easter house blessing was to facilitate entry of Christ into the homes of the faithful through the ministry of the priests to bring peace and joy.

Fr. Vinod, who is soon to assume the role of administrator at St. Joseph’s Public School in Guwahati, Assam, following his final Eucharist celebration at SFS on Sunday, underscored the importance of Easter house blessings in Kohima.

Fr. Vinod emphasised the significance of the Passover tradition, underscoring the symbolic importance of those blessings. He also highlighted the annual renewal of house blessings as a symbolic act of purification and consecration to God, akin to the Passover observance.

The priest elaborated on the rituals involved such as prayers and the use of holy water and word of God, which symbolically connect to the blood of Christ.

Despite the challenges of accurately counting households due to the floating population, Fr. Vinod estimated that about 1000 households were blessed last year.

The Easter house blessings at SFS Parish began on April 3 and will extend throughout the entire month, reaching beyond the church to bless the homes of its parishioners.

Easter house blessings are a cherished tradition in many Christian communities, where clergy members visit homes to offer prayers, blessings, and perform religious rituals during the Easter season.