Clockwise from top l.: Liam Malley holding pup Lucy, and Hannah Paszkiewicz
and Michala O’Neill with Patrick the lemon beagle. Cupcake the pug, in winter
parka. Owners present pets for the blessing by Msgr. John Gilchrist.
KEARNY –
If things continue thus, people are going to start bringing fish to the Blessing of the Animals at the Archdiocesan Youth Center (formerly Boystown).
But that’s fine. Fish would be welcome. (Provided they were alive and swimming and not on a hook.) All God’s creatures are welcome at this annual ceremony. At the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, for example, they have blessed everything from elephants to earthworms. One pachyderm stood behind the altar swaying its trunk in time to the organ music. The earthworms were carried up the aisle in a box of sod.
However, that N.Y.C. event takes place indoors. Most, like the one Saturday morning on Belgrove Drive, are conducted outside.
Last year, the Kearny blessing was held in torrential rain. This year, the precipitation was a comparative sprinkle, but enough to dampen the coats (and parkas) of the doggies that attended.
No cats this year. Where were the cats? Probably at home worrying about Hurricane Joaquin. Cats watch too many (inaccurate) weather reports.
Many churches, Catholic and Protestant, hold these blessings every year on or near Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. And no matter how wet or cold the weather, there is always an aura of warmth surrounding the little flock of pets and pet caregivers who participate.
At the Youth Center, the ceremony was held near the statue of St. Francis on the front lawn. Presiding, as always, was Msgr. John J. Gilchrist, with the assistance of Sister Doris.
The text of the Order for the Blessing itself is quite beautiful, and touching. It begins with a reading from the Book of Genesis:
“The Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the animals.”
It also reminds us that “God created us and places us on this earth to be the stewards of all living things and so to proclaim the glory of their Creator.”
And it asks, “Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect, for they are Your creation.”
There is much more, equally eloquent and lovely. And after the last prayer, the animals are brought forward to be individually blessed and sprinkled with holy water.
We also share with you a reminder included in a lovely flyer the human attendees received:
“Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God’s critters.”
Truer words ….
