Local Clergy Come Together for Ecumenical Blessing of the Palms

Dressed in robes for worship, and costumes from biblical times, the three congregations of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church gathered in Medford Square on Palm Sunday to bless palms as each church begins Holy Week.

For decades, Grace Episcopal Church and St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church have been blessing palms together. This year First Baptist joined the celebration, and the gathering moved into the center of Medford Square.

The blessing began with the Reverend Noah H. Evans, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church welcoming the crowd. He said “…this gathering is a visible sign of the unity of the Church of Christ, as we all worship in our own traditions. It also shows our common commitment to our City and the well being of our community. It feels so right to begin this most holy of weeks together.”

Medford’s Mayor Michael McGlynn offered a Prayer for the Unity of the City and Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches offered a Prayer for the Unity of Christ’s Church. Rev. Mathew Rasure, Acting Pastor of First Baptist Church then read the reading from the Gospel of Mark which told the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the people spread palms on the road before him. Then, Fr. Edward Doughty, Pastor of St. Joseph’s and St. Francis Collaborative blessed the palms while spreading holy water across the many baskets of palms. Each congregation processed back to its house of worship for the continuation of the morning services, with shouts of “Hosanna in the highest…”

– Submitted by The Revered Noah Evans, Grace Episcopal Church. Photos by John Rogers, Jr.