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Beloved animals blessed on St. Francis' Feast Day

Owners bring in their pets on the day of the patron saint of animals.

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published October 13, 2007

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NEW PORT RICHEY - Each year around the Feast Day of St. Francis, churches set aside a time for the Blessing of the Animals.

"They are a part of God's Kingdom, and if he created them they should be blessed," said the Rev. James Burke, pastoral assistant at King of Glory Lutheran Church in New Port Richey.

Burke led the ceremony at his church at 4820 Floramar Ter. last Saturday.

He started out by saying: "Wonderful are the works of God, blessed be the name of the Lord."

Those in attendance responded with: "Now and forever."

About 20 animals came to be blessed. Dogs were on leashes and cats were in cages. One small hamster came in a little girl's purse.

Over at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 5326 Charles St. in New Port Richey, six dogs showed up, with their owners, to receive a blessing.

"In the past we have had hamsters, cats and turtles along with the dogs," said the Rev. Raymond Dage.

During the ceremony, readings from the Bible were used, including Psalm 8, where it speaks of God's creations: the sheep and oxen, the beasts of the field, birds of the air and the fish of the sea.

Kristy and Wayne Kauffman have been coming to the church with their 13-year old miniature pinscher Annabelle for the past four years, even though they are not members of the church.

"Our animals are our children," said Kristy. "They are a huge part of our life, our four- legged hairy children."

Annabelle is a celebrity of sorts, since she has been chronicled in newspapers, Kristy said.

"She is a cancer survivor, a star, and I am sure the blessing has helped," she said. "I think this (ceremony) is a wonderful thing. It is a good way to meet people sharing the precious gift of pets."

Pet owners received a magnet picture frame so they can keep their pet's picture on their refrigerator. Inside the magnet is an inner circle with a picture of St. Francis. Photos were taken of the animals being blessed.

This year the service was dedicated to Pastor Gary Logan's dog Zeke, who was 15 years old and had been ill for a while. He was put to sleep on the Feast Day of St. Francis.

Burke said that animal friends are a wonderful and special gift from God. "They trust us as we trust God," he said.

The ceremony closed with this prayer: "May God, who created the animals to share this Earth with us, continue to protect us and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings, now and forever."

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 21:44:38]