The pace of life in Saluzzo, a walled hill town in the shadow of the Italian Alps in Piedmont, has not changed much since the local castle was built in the 13th century.
As is the custom in every Italian town around Easter, the priest has always ventured out to bless the homes of his parishioners, stopping in to recite a prayer, sprinkle holy water in each room and perhaps linger for a coffee and a biscuit.
But things have changed this year in Saluzzo after its priest, Michelangelo Priotto, got so fed up wandering the narrow alleys of the town and finding no one at home that he decided to provide the faithful with do-it-yourself home blessing kits.
"To find everyone at home it was increasingly necessary to visit homes after dinner, which would have meant months to get to everyone," said Fr Priotto, who is giving away 3,500 home kits containing a picture of Jesus, a prayer to read out and a small bottle of holy water.
The distribution of kits in the 9,000-strong parish was launched after the limited success of previous schemes, including enrolling priests from other parishes to help bang on doors and the blessing of entire apartment buildings in one go.
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