By Linda White
To the casual observer, it was a unique tableau of pets and their families gathered in the sun-filled courtyard of the Parish of St. Michael on Sunday afternoon, October 1. As you might expect there was a lot of sniffing, as well as loud and excited barking as Monsignor William F. Cuddy, Jr. took his position near the statue of St. Francis of Assisi and presided at the blessing of the animals.
The feast day honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th-century patron saint of animals and the environment, is observed in early October by many churches across the world by welcoming pets and their humans for a special blessing. Monsignor Cuddy shared readings from the Book of Genesis highlighting the important role animals have and continue to play in our lives, led those gathered in the Lord’s Prayer, and sprinkled holy water to bless all the pets and their family members.
Approximately 40 parishioners and their cherished pets were in attendance for the celebration, including dogs of all sizes and shapes, a few cats, a rabbit, a lovebird as well as photos of some pets who were too senior to attend. Pet-to-pet introductions and human-to-human introductions were exchanged both before and after the blessing.
Images in the gallery below are all (c) JMcCT, 2017 – Click twice on each image to see it at full size
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