On an otherwise quiet Holy Saturday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan participated in a festive tradition at St. John Nepomucene Church in Manhattan, blessing the Easter foods of dozens of parishioners, some who wore traditional Slovak apparel, who came for the occasion.

 

“We’re like kids. We can’t wait to celebrate — we’re so eager and confident in the resurrection, we think, ‘let’s go,'” Cardinal Dolan told The Good Newsroom after the blessing. “I love the whole image of food — God’s providence, God feeds us. God feeds us body and soul. Thursday we remembered the Holy Eucharist. Today they bring their food which reminds us of the sacred meal of the Mass and the food for the soul, the Most Holy Eucharist. These folks know it! Let’s eat!”

 

The tradition of blessing Easter foods on Holy Saturday is one observed throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

 

In an appearance to His disciples after His Resurrection, Jesus asked for fish, and the tradition invokes that encounter. “On the banks of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked for fish, but Slovakia is an inland country,” said Father Stefan, pastor of St. John Nepomucene and St. Frances X. Cabrini parishes. “We have no ocean or sea, but people had pigs, and cows, and chickens, so they brought the eggs, cheeses, and different kinds of meat in a nice basket with a colorful embroidered cloth for blessing,” he said. Although some might choose to eat the foods Saturday for lunch or in the afternoon, most likely they will be reserved for after the Easter Vigil Mass, or Easter Mass on Sunday, Father Chanas told The Good Newsroom.

 

Cardinal Dolan greeted the parishioners, followed by a gospel reading by Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York. Cardinal Dolan then blessed the foods and the parishioners that brought them, first with holy water, then with incense. He then offered a final blessing and wished everyone a Happy Easter.

 

As Holy Saturday commemorates the full day that Jesus lay in the tomb following his crucifixion and death on Good Friday, no Mass is offered on the day.

 

After the blessing, Cardinal Dolan took time to greet St. John Nepomucene’s parishioners and take photos with them.

 

Originally founded in 1895 on East 4th Street, the parish eventually moved to its present location at East 66th Street and First Avenue after World War II, as its Slovak parishioners moved north. It is now merged with St. Frances X. Cabrini Church on Roosevelt Island. It offers both English and Slovak liturgies and confessions weekly.