Dear Fellow Parishioners,

One of the events I most look forward to is the Blessing of Animals, which takes place on, or near, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th. This year, it will take place in the parish plaza and park after the First Friday Mass on October 3rd, at about 12:15 p.m. I encourage not only school families, but all parishioners, to bring their animals to be blessed, in return for the love and companionship they provide throughout the year.

The Blessing of Animals is a phenomenon which has traveled the world over, in many times and cultures. It is widely regarded as a religious activity, and occurs broadly across most religions in some form, including, for example, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Unitarian Universalism, amongst others. World Animal Day, celebrated by those not associated with credal religion, is nonetheless celebrated on October 4th, the Feast of St Francis.

Those with stuffed animals may have them blessed as well. They, too, are recipients of human affection, and it is not always possible for a family to keep a live pet. Here, I speak from experience. I would love to have a canine companion, but my life as a pastor does not permit that now. Over the years, my parents adopted a number of rescue dogs, and almost all of them had a keen awareness that they had been rescued. Those adopted dogs were exceptionally affectionate companions.

Over the past century or more in this country, our relationship to animals has evolved dramatically. At the turn of the 20th century, horses were a mainstay of the American economy, and were even subject to the military draft. My grandmother told me that the only time she saw her father weep was when the Army came to their farm to draft their pick of the horses for World War I. On farms, they were neither pets nor possessions, but living beings and essential co-workers with whom farmers spent far more time, day after day, even than with their own human families. Today, the power of even electric cars is measured in “horsepower,” a metric which few probably associate with real horses of any kind. Canned dog food was introduced under the brand “Ken-L-Ration” in the early 1920’s. Now, whole aisles of superstores are dedicated to pet supplies.

The beauty of the Feast of St. Francis when joined to the Blessing of the Animals is that it unites the worship of God with the appreciation and veneration of creation.

Come join us on October 3rd.

Blessings, Fr. Bill Donahue