A Blessing of Janet Blakeley on Her 80th Birthday "Blessed Are These Hands" by Sally Brochu ARCWP

Deacon Janet Blakeley, ARCWP blesses Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community 

Janet, please come and stand before us and receive our blessing that is filled with love and gratitude for your 80 years of being the Body of Christ in our world.

Our hands are capable of so much and are a means of showing our love for others, and yours, Janet, enriched the lives of so many people, including myself and your grandchildren some of whom are here with you today. You have also blessed the members of this community.

Your hands have reached out to many people - friends, strangers, the struggling and have remained open to life. They have written letters of love and encouragement, have typed many a post graduate paper for others in order to earn extra money. Even the latest technology hasn’t intimidated you……. texting helped you keep on touch with grandchildren!

Your hands have cradled children, and hugged those you love. Your hands reached out to the poor of this country and Haiti. These same hands have brought comfort to many.

For 76 years you brought delight to so many by playing the piano and you have deepened and enriched your own spiritual journey. Playing becomes prayer.  

One of your greatest gifts to people is your generous hospitality and your ability to make everyone feel so special and welcome. Your superb cooking is a labor of love and those who sit at your beautifully set table are fed, both physically and spiritually. This is sharing Eucharist.

So we thank God for your full life, your goodness and your openness to life.

And so we pray: (Please raise your hands in blessing) Generous and loving God, we thank you for the full life with which you have blessed Janet. Continue to bless her with good health, life-giving friends and family. May she be filled with the continued awareness of your deep love for her. Amen

Left:Janet Blakeley, Right: Sally Brochu reads blessing for Janet's birthday

Blessing with oil: Janet, may the God of love bless you and bless your hands that for 80 years expressed God’s love through your love of all. God, may these hands continue to be your hands in our world for these are woman’s hands and they are holy, just as we are holy. Amen

Janet, you have now reached an age of wisdom, would you give us your blessing?