By Jessica Easthope
Nine-year-old Havanese, Harry Chirichella is all bark and no bite, ever.
“He’s met thousands of people, I’ve never seen him lose his temper. I’ve never seen him snap at anybody, “ said Harry’s owner Father Vincent Chirichella, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Astoria, Queens.
Even through all the white fur, Father Vincent says you can see his thoughts and Harry can see yours.
“I counsel people in my office, and he just will go over sometimes he puts his paws around their leg and, kind of puts his head against their leg. People just instinctively, comforted by dogs because of their ability to give unconditional love,” he said.
Harry has enriched Fr. Vincent’s ministry and the lives of his parishioners. As a certified emotional service animal, he brings an official sense of calm wherever he goes.
“It facilitates an opportunity for, a conversation with them, getting to know them, getting to know their story, getting to know their needs. It’s evangelization. And he’s definitely part of it,” said Fr. Vincent.
Over in Jackson Heights, Father Rick Beuther, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church has an evangelization tool of his own – an eight-year-old Lab named Thomas.
“Parishioners really love Thomas. When you’re contacting people for the first time and he’s always there, he brings the temperature down for people,” said Fr. Rick.
Father Rick and Thomas routinely make visits to parishioners and take walks through the neighborhood.
“Visiting the sick, those who are alone, I always give them a call and say, hey, could I bring a friend,” he said.
For Fr. Rick, there are moments that he’ll never forget, when Thomas showed his heart.
“Just last week, I had a woman, coming in talking to me about the death of her mom. And all of a sudden, he got up and laid on her feet, I said he’s feeling your pain,” Fr. Rick said.
When it comes to these canine companions, their loyalty is limitless.
“Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, he says in one of his, sermons ‘love me, love my dog,’” said Fr. Rick.
“They really make a priest more human,” said Fr. Vincent. “Because sometimes people forget that we are human.”
Sometimes it takes the love of a dog to be a reminder that priests are people too.