Every year, a Detroit community comes together for a unique celebration meant to celebrate truckers and provide them with spiritual protection out on the road.
The event is called “Blessing of the Semis” and it is held every year at Our Lady Queen of Angels church in Detroit, Michigan. Church leaders say that the purpose of the event is to allow drivers to give thanks for their ability to support their families through trucking and to ask for protection while they’re on the road.
Following the Catholic Mass, dozens of semi trucks line up in the church parking lot to receive the blessing. Families stand in front of the semi trucks as a priest sprinkles the semi truck and the families with holy water and says a short prayer.
Truck driver Eric Torrijos explained the importance of the ceremony to WDET. “I always have God with me when I’m on the road. Because you never know if you’re gonna come home alive,” he said.
After the blessing, the community comes together for a party with food and entertainment for children.
You can see video of one of the Blessing of the Semis events below.