Ready for the blessing

Suzie Harrison

Usually they are found wielding paint brushes and are in the company

of easels, canvases or a pottery wheel, but this Friday night the

scenery will be a little different, as artists gather in pews at St.

Catherine of Siena Church for the seventh annual “Blessing of the

Artists.”

“This year we’ll have all the bells and whistles and the incense

and water,” founder, artist Anne England said. “Afterward there is a

party with really good food and wine.”

The blessing will take place at 7 p.m. today at St. Catherine’s

Church at 990 Temple Terrace and the doors are open to everyone.

England, who is a regular at St. Catherine’s, came up with the

idea along with Monsignor John Urell when they had a conversation,

noting that there is a large artist population at St. Catherine’s who

have been blessed. They thought it would be even better to bless all

the artists and not just their congregation.

“It started with that and just grew, now there are between 150 to

200 people that come,” England said. “It’s to bless the art season

that’s opening, to bless them that they’ll work productively and so

they keep a calm spirit. Everybody feels pressure and we hope to do

away with that.”

Fitz Maurice has been going since its inception and likes to

spread the news to other local artists.

“I believe God loves artists in a special way,” Maurice said. “Not

that we’re saints but because he gave us special gifts, so we can

spiritually uplift society. I’ve gone every year -- I need all the

blessings I can get.”

England and Maurice pointed out that what’s great about the

ceremony is that one doesn’t have to be Catholic or practicing any

particular faith to come.

Father O’Gorman will be giving the blessing and artists have been

known to bring a paintbrush or other artistic tools to be blessed.

“Sometimes people bring a paintbrush, etching tools or sculpting

tools -- it’s very interesting, it’s nice, really something,” England

said.

Wildlife artist Chris Hoy has been going the last couple of years,

since he got back into the Festival of Arts.

“This is quite a great thing that Anne does,” Hoy said. “It’s

always nice to have a blessing for the art show.”

He said he feels extremely grateful for the artistic gift he has

been given.

“It’s good with such a mixed bag of tricks,” England said. “This

is the way it should be -- a wonderful, warm time of coming together

as a group of artists and sharing a blessing.”

For information, call Anne England at 497-1595 or Luella Vasquez

at 494-9701, ext. 12.