A blessing for Raleigh construction workers
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Construction workers in Raleigh got a special blessing Thursday morning.
Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh held a blessings of the workers building the future Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.
The Bishop prayed for the workers in both English and Spanish and held a small reception for them at the Nazareth Street site.
"The church gives us a beautiful prayer to lift up the dignity of the worker, the respect and reverence of work in praise of God," Burbidge said.
"I think it's good he's involved with the construction and cares about the workers and about praying for everyone who's here .. hoping we stay safe in building this Cathedral," said subcontractor Simpson Eason.
The Bishop gave the Clancy & Theys Construction Company employees prayer cards and religious key chains with the image of St. Joseph.
"St. Joseph in his own human life was a carpenter, a builder, so in our Catholic church, we have patron saints," Burbidge said. "For that of the worker, St. Joseph is the patron saint so we turn to him for his help."
"It's a blessing for the whole people," said Victor Francisco Martinez with the Clancy & Theys Construction Company. "We work in construction, we have many dangerous situations. It's a good privilege for us."
The $41 million cathedral will feature a church, parish hall, gym, school, and soccer field.
The groundbreaking for the project took place in January, and it's expected to be completed in 2017.
