PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Church leaders in Maine will wash the feet of immigrants and homeless individuals as part of a ritual imitating a biblical scene symbolic of humility.
The April 17 ceremony is being held outdoors in Monument Square in Portland. Church leaders will pour water over people’s feet and dry them with a towel, mimicking a biblical scene where Jesus Christ washes the feet of his disciples.
Personal stories of some of the participants will be read aloud during the service in several languages including Spanish, French and Arabic.
In 1955, Pope Pius XII restored the practice as a part of a general reform to encourage charity work and raise awareness of struggling individuals.
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