Photo caption: A father and his two sons attend the Blessing of Helmets Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, June 14. Mary Stadnyk photo
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Danielle Dalfonzo had strong motivation to attend, along with her family, the special Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, where transportation-related items were going to be blessed.
She is aware of how devastating biking accidents can be, and she is particularly focused on keeping her seven-year-old daughter, Gianna, safe during her some of her activities like ice skating and bicycling.
“Like seatbelts, helmets are important. They protect the brain,” Dalfonzo said. She came to the Mass “so that Gianna could get her helmet blessed and where we could pray for all who wear helmets” whether in their workplaces or their recreational activities.
“I was glad to come today and pray that we are kept safe,” said Gianna while holding her bright pink helmet after attending the June 14 Mass.
The Blessing of Helmets Mass was started three years ago, according to Msgr. Sam Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector, and each year varies depending on the number of people who attend the Mass and the reason why they want to be there.
“Last year firemen were at the Mass,” and their firetruck was out in the parking lot, Msgr. Sirianni recalled. This year’s Mass drew mostly children and their biking helmets, although there were also a few adults with their motorcycle gear.
Msgr. Sirianni said the idea to hold a Mass with the Blessing of Helmets surfaced after he and several priests of the Diocese traveled on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, where they concelebrated a Mass at the Shrine. There was a blessing of helmets and 10,000 people in attendance.
“Besides the multitude of faithful, there were different divisions – police, army, different civil and government organizations that use motorcycles and wear helmets,” he said. “It was such a beautiful liturgy and when you thought about how helmets protect so many people from horrendous accidents, the other priests and I thought about having a similar Mass here at home.”
The Mass is now in its third year, he said, and it’s one he hopes to continue.
As Msgr. Sirianni sees it, you can’t have too many blessings. Holding this event each year gives those who wear bicycle and motorcycle helmets additional blessings for their journeys in life.h transportation, recreation is focus of Mass with blessing of helmets