Blessing of the Waters

On April 19th, join Archbishop Damphousse for a 9am bilingual Mass at Precious Blood Parish in Cornwall, followed by a procession to the St. Lawrence river, where melted glacier water—blessed by Pope Leo XIV at the recent Raising Hope for Climate Justice in Rome—will be released as a sign of God’s call to care for creation. A reception will follow.

Why Water?

Without water, there is no life. We’ve hunted it beyond Earth, extending our search into the galaxy. When we look for planets capable of sustaining life, we look for water.

Water is present throughout Scriptures. In the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. In times of need, God split the Red Sea, brought water from a desert rock, and turned jars of water into wine. The waters of the Jordan river became the first baptismal font. And when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, he promised a living water that could truly satisfy her thirst.

The same waters at Creation are still nourishing us today, and they deserve our protection.