Bishop Blesses St. Kilian Food Pantry

celebrated its new food pantry Sunday with a ceremony and a blessing.

Auxiliary Bishop John C. Dunne blessed the building, which houses food donations and distribution and several social services.

After mass, parishioners accompanied Dunne on a walk across the street to the new site where a brief ceremony praised the efforts to help others. Boy Scouts, community donors, the Chamber of Commerce, former Mayor George Starkie, and others were thanked. Then Dunne  blessed the building with holy water before a tour of the new facilities.

Nina Petersen, director of parish social ministry, said that in addition to distributing food, the service provides information, advocacy for people, referrals to other agencies, vans for medical care, and communion for the homebound.

The facility is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with Spanish translators available on Tusdays and Fridays.

Msgr. Michael P. Flynn, pastor of St. Kilian, said, "This is a fulfillment of a dream...It provides an atmosphere of dignity and welcome to people of our community, and it it fullfills the Gospel commandment."