Blessing of Pets Ceremony at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie

Yesterday, I photographed Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo, pastor of St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie as he held a blessing of the pets ceremony.

From left, Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo blesses Cooper the dog as his owner, Calkins Media's Garden Minute host Tina Sottolano-Cain looks on during a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

From left, Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo blesses Cooper the dog as his owner, Calkins Media’s Garden Minute host Tina Sottolano-Cain looks on during a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (left) blesses a dog named Vixen during a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (left) blesses a dog named Vixen during a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo conducts a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo conducts a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (right) conducts a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (right) conducts a blessing of pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Brooke Alexander holds her dog Shadow in her lap as Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (not seen) conducted a blessing of pets Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

Brooke Alexander holds her dog Shadow in her lap as Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo (not seen) conducted a blessing of pets Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

From left, Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo blesses Brooke Alexander's dog Shadow and Nolan Wimmer's dog Jaxon during a blessing of the pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

From left, Rev. Jeffrey A. Wargo blesses Brooke Alexander’s dog Shadow and Nolan Wimmer’s dog Jaxon during a blessing of the pets ceremony Sunday, October 23, 2016 at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain)

 

 

Stations of the Cross for Good Friday in Bensalem, Pennsylvania

I had not been back to Our Lady of Fatima since grade school almost 25 years ago. Tonight, I went there to photograph the Stations of the Cross at the church grounds in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The re-enactment is a very well produced presentation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as part of the Easter celebration. Check out some of the images in a slideshow below. Also, be sure to click the full frame option.
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The Last Supper Held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Quakertown, Pennsylvania

On Monday evening I photographed the Last Supper. Well, not really. It was a rehearsal for the re-enactment, no…recreation of Michelangelo’s Last Supper that Trinity Lutheran Church has been doing in the church the Thursday before Easter for the last 14 years. It looks really cool.
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Check out the video where Ray Fox explains the process.

Oh, and I must admit, I did ask Jesus if he could do something about the abnormal temperature this spring. He’s working on it.

Ash Wednesday Celebration In Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Had a nice time making pictures at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Doylestown, Pennsylvania this past Ash Wednesday. Luckily, Father Paschal Onunwa spoke to me on camera and explained a bit about Ash Wednesday. After 12 years of catholic school, you’d think I’d have remembered some of it. Heres some of the images below and the video.
Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday

I’ve also attached a pdf of the page so you can see how the image was used in the newspaper.DAILY_CMI_INT_A003_021915.arc

Archdiocese of Philadelphia Church Closing

BRISTOL, PA - MAY 31:  Ralph DiGuiseppe of Bristol, Pennsylvania is hugged by Sister Mary Donald, O. SS. T after the closing of St. Ann's parish is announced May 31, 2014 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia had been discussing the merger of several parishes in the Philadelphia area over the last few months. The announcement was to be made last Saturday night to parish members of the affected churches.

On Saturday night I was assigned to photograph what potentially might have been one of the last masses celebrated at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bristol, Pennsylvania.
I arrived early, to make sure I had time to speak with the church pastor and secure permission to snake pictures during the service as well as the announcement of the merger.
The padre agreed, although I did receive a bit of resistance from some parishioners that has said they didn’t believe the pastor would like anyone making photographs. They seemed surpassed when i told them I had secured permission, and all was good.

It seemed as though people knew what was coming when Father Tom Morris read the announcement from the Archdiocese. There were plenty of tears beforehand as well as during. It was a difficult assignment to photograph, because I could feel their pain. Below are some of the images as well as the video I made during the announcement from Father Morris.

BRISTOL, PA - MAY 31:  Monica DiGuiseppe and Robyn Trunell, both of Bristol, Pennsylvania tear up after the closing of St. Ann's parish is announced May 31, 2014 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

BRISTOL, PA - MAY 31:  Robyn Trunell, of Bristol, Pennsylvania wipes a tear after the closing of St. Ann's parish is announced May 31, 2014 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

BRISTOL, PA - MAY 31:  From left, Ralph DiGuiseppe, Monica DiGuiseppe,  Robyn Trunell and in the foreground Ann Sidorak, all of Bristol, Pennsylvania continue worship after the closing of St. Ann's parish is announced May 31, 2014 in Bristol, Pennsylvania. The woman on the far right is unidentified. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

Spring Equinox

Went to photograph a spring equinox presentation at Pebble Hill Church. While driving, I recalled my last experience making pictures at this church. I had a very negative experience that time, and was wary of going there again. It was 1989 and I was on assignment for the Philadelphia Inquirer. We were doing a feature on the church during a musical performance. I was able to make pictures of the performer without incident, but every time I raised my camera to my eye to photograph the audience, I met with resistance. After a few times of this, I was asked not to photograph the audience because the camera may take away their essence. WHAT!? Are you kidding me? No, they were serious. I left.

This time was a bit different. Everyone was very welcoming and it was a much more pleasant experience.
Only thing I couldn’t figure out was, if the woman giving the performance was a psychic, why didn’t she know I was coming?

DOYLESTOWN, PA - MARCH 26:   Lady Haight-Ashton, sacred dance teacher and Gardnerian High Priestess is reflected in artwork as she presents a program honoring the Spring Equinox and and the rebirth of the Earth into new life and fertility at Pebble Hill Church March 26, 2014 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Haight-Ashton spoke about the origins of dance as sacred ritual and how these sacred rituals honored Mother Earth (the sacred Feminine principle) by honoring the four seasons and their cycles, which she terms the “dance of the planet”.  (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

DOYLESTOWN, PA – MARCH 26: Lady Haight-Ashton, sacred dance teacher and Gardnerian High Priestess is reflected in artwork as she presents a program honoring the Spring Equinox and and the rebirth of the Earth into new life and fertility at Pebble Hill Church March 26, 2014 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Haight-Ashton spoke about the origins of dance as sacred ritual and how these sacred rituals honored Mother Earth (the sacred Feminine principle) by honoring the four seasons and their cycles, which she terms the “dance of the planet”. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images)

DOYLESTOWN, PA - MARCH 26:   Lady Haight-Ashton, sacred dance teacher and Gardnerian High Priestess presents a program honoring the Spring Equinox and and the rebirth of the Earth into new life and fertility at Pebble Hill Church March 26, 2014 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Haight-Ashton spoke about the origins of dance as sacred ritual and how these sacred rituals honored Mother Earth (the sacred Feminine principle) by honoring the four seasons and their cycles, which she terms the “dance of the planet”.  (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images) (William Thomas Cain)

DOYLESTOWN, PA – MARCH 26: Lady Haight-Ashton, sacred dance teacher and Gardnerian High Priestess presents a program honoring the Spring Equinox and and the rebirth of the Earth into new life and fertility at Pebble Hill Church March 26, 2014 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Haight-Ashton spoke about the origins of dance as sacred ritual and how these sacred rituals honored Mother Earth (the sacred Feminine principle) by honoring the four seasons and their cycles, which she terms the “dance of the planet”. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Cain Images)