Homeschooling is an option that many Catholic families choose, and the Diocese of St. Augustine held its Seventh Annual Blessing of Homeschool Families Mass and reception Sept. 15 to welcome another school year.
This year’s event took place at Holy Family Parish in Jacksonville, and it continues to grow after seven years, with 15 more families taking part in this year’s festivities, according to Director of Christian Formation Erin McGeever.
“It is an event to acknowledge the role that parents have in the faith formation of their children,” McGeever said.
Bishop Erik Pohlmeier was the celebrant for the Mass and a children’s choir led the singing during Mass.
Not only did the families receive a blessing from the bishop, but he also wrote a prayer for the new school year, and each family took home prayer bookmarks so that they can recite it and keep God in their hearts as they learn.
The final verse of the prayer card reads, “Bless our families and teachers as they seek to form us into your image. Let us learn to serve you always in hope and joy.”
It was special having so many families at the same Mass, but as is the case with young children in attendance there were moments throughout where certain high-pitched noises and cooing echoed throughout the church.
However, McGeever reflected on about a two-minute span of time roughly halfway through the distribution of communion where she noticed complete silence, other than the music, settle throughout the church.
“The Holy Spirit was working right there,” McGeever said. “It was a very powerful moment.”
After Mass, the families had an opportunity to interact with the bishop, with many children fascinated by his miter and crosier (cap and staff, respectively), and some even had the opportunity to hold the crosier.
The celebration continued outside in the Holy Family courtyard where children enjoyed bubble blowing, face painting, line dancing and a buffet that featured popular finger foods, such as tater tots, chicken and various cheeses.
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
