Divine Savior pastor offers blessing of seeds

Father Gideon Buya, pastor of Divine Savior Catholic Parish in Fredonia, is offering to conduct a traditional spring blessing of the seeds for local farmers and gardeners.

“The plan was to do something with the whole community (at the church), but under the circumstances, we’ll do them individually,” Buya said, referring to the current coronavirus outbreak and stay-at-home restrictions.

Buya said the blessing of the seeds is an important ritual.

“As a people of faith, we believe that God blesses us in different ways, and one way we receive those blessings is through the effort we put into our farms as we invite and involve God in each activity. 

“So sometimes we pray before we eat or get into our cars or when we go to bed. But sometimes we forget to ask God to bless our other activities. We need him there as well.”

Buya compared the seed-blessing to the blessing of the animals that is traditionally conducted in the fall.

Seed blessings are usually performed in the spring. 

“It’s the planting season. The traditional way is people bring (to church) their seeds and their tools that they would use to have them blessed,” Buya said.

“Because of the situation, we’ll do more of a family thing” and go to people’s farms or homes.

For more information, call Buya at 692-9994.