Coronavirus: American priest blesses people with holy water using a water gun

Amid social distancing policies, water guns have become the latest accessories for priests who want to continue blessing their parishioners.

Alex Turner-Cohen

@AlexTurnerCohen

less than 2 min read

May 17, 2020 - 1:17PM

A priest from Michigan, USA, has become an internet sensation, after photos surfaced of him using a water gun to bless his parishioners with holy water.

It’s just one of the many professions that has had to adapt in a world of social distancing.

Father Tim Pelc, from Detroit, shot his parishioners with holy water on April 11 to celebrate Easter during a socially-distanced Holy Week.

The hilarious photos have since gone viral on Twitter.

A Priest giving social distance blessings with a squirt pistol and what, I'm assuming, is Holy water. 2020 folks. pic.twitter.com/iDnYs33hs9
— Jeff Barnaby (@tripgore) May 15, 2020

The St Ambrose Parish posted the photos on its Facebook page along with a message.

“Blessing of the Easter Foods, April 11, 2020,” the post read.

“Adapting to the need for social distancing, St. Ambrose continued it's (sic) tradition of Blessing of Easter Food Baskets, drive-thru style. Yes, that's Fr. Tim using a squirt gun full of Holy Water!”

This priest has made international headlines for his humorous way of celebrating Easter.

Father Tim Pelc blessed dozens of parishioners who were safely distanced from him by staying in their cars.

Father Pelc stood on the steps of his parish as cars came by, their boots filled with Easter food.

The priest wore gloves and a face mask to be safe, and drivers did too.

One of the parishioners took photos of the event.

"The original idea was to do something for the kids of the parish," Father Pelc told BuzzFeed News.

"They were about ready to have an Easter unlike any of their past, so I thought, what can we still do that would observe all the protocols of social distancing?"

Father Pelc isn’t your average 70-year-old. He’s been with the parish for 30 years and prides himself on having a "pretty wacky mind and pretty accepting congregation".

Father Tim Pelc is from Detroit, Michigan.

He’s been with the parish for 30 years.

Pelc came up with the idea of using a water gun to squirt holy water onto his parishioners' Easter baskets, and consulted with his friend, an emergency room doctor in Detroit, to ensure it was safe to do so.