Forget My Yorkie, Please Bless My Waves and Surfboard

Orginally published on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 at 8:50 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Yesterday I told you about churches that we holding services to bless your pet; today the LA Times reports that Catholics, Jews and Muslims recently gathered at the Huntington Beach Pier to offer brief prayers. After a bowl of holy water is poured into the ocean, some grab their boards and hit the waves.

For about 400 interfaith worshipers, the shoreline became a makeshift church as Catholics, Jews and Muslims gathered for an unusual "blessing of the waves."

Although their faith traditions differ, those in attendance were bound by a reverence for the ocean and the peaceful place of prayer they find on its shores -- if not surfing its waves.

Isn't that special?!...

The service, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, was directed by a pair of surf-loving priests. Fathers Christian Mondor and Matt Munoz chose the Sunday after the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi—the patron saint of ecology, as well as for animals—for the event as a reminder that the ocean and its ecosystem must be protected.

A snapshot-ready Southern California scene provided the backdrop for the service: The sun rose at 7 a.m. into a cloudless sky, and 6- to 10-foot waves crashed in quick succession against the pier, sending up high-splashing water.

Worshipers lined up on concrete steps just east of the Huntington Beach Pier, arriving in T-shirts or sweaters, shorts and flip-flops. A handful of surfers in wetsuits dotted the crowd. Every once in a while, a morning jogger ran past on the walkway between the crowd and the beach. A youthful rock band set up to play for the crowd.

Mondor, who wore the brown robes of his Franciscan order over a black wetsuit, planned to hit the water after the blessing.
You can read more here...

What would you like me to bless for you today?

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

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