Priest in Detroit squirts holy water with water gun in fight against coronavirus

Reverand Timothy Pelc blesses Easter baskets outside St. Ambrose Church in Grosse Pointe Park
AP

A Roman Catholic priest in the US has taken to squirting holy water at his parishioners with a water gun to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

The St Ambrose Church in Detroit posted ​photos posted on social media showing the Reverand Tim Pelc shooting water into a car window as it stopped by the steps of the church on Easter.

Rev. Pelc wore a mask, face shield and rubber gloves as further precautions against spreading Covid-19.

The photos of the priest at the church in Grosse Pointe Park has now inspired memes and jokes across the internet.

One shows the 70-year-old priest amid the fires of hell directing the squirt gun at devil-like figures.

Rev. Pelc told BuzzFeed News over the weekend that he was a little concerned about how the Vatican might react when the photos of him squirting holy water began circulating widely on the internet.

But, he said, "I haven't heard anything yet."

The idea was to find a way to continue a tradition of blessing Easter baskets despite the pandemic.

One photo shows Rev. Pelc standing behind a car with its hatchback door up, shooting water at a basket flowers.

The church and surrounding communities have taken the pandemic seriously, he said.

Parishioners have tied blue ribbons on trees at the church for each person who has died of COVID-19 in Michigan.

That number is now approaching 5,000.

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