By Jessica Easthope
As the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment, every year on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, Catholics bring their furry, scaly, and feathered friends to be blessed in a tradition that dates back centuries.
With every sprinkle of holy water, these people hope for good health and long lives—not for themselves, but for their pets.
Canines, felines, reptiles, and even stuffed animals made their way to St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Ridge Thursday for the annual tradition. St. Francis of Assisi started blessing animals back in the 13th century, but newly ordained priest Father Randy Nguyen is doing it for the first time.
“The blessing was very special today because, as St. Francis of Assisi said, animals are part of God’s creation, and we should appreciate and love them just like we love other people,” Father Nguyen said.
Chloe Carnella and her Cavalier King Charles, Cookie, are best friends.
“She always snuggles up in a ball, curls herself around, and looks like a fluff ball,”Carnella said.
Eddie Khzam was excited to talk about everything his bearded dragon, Bella, can do.
“She’s a very good eater, and she’s more active than my other ones,” Khzam said. “Her back feels like a rock. She climbs around her tank, sometimes runs, and sometimes goes underneath the couch.”
Daniel Freeland, a parishioner at St. Pat’s for nearly 30 years, says recently his service dog, Perceus, has been a true companion.
“Well, right now he’s everything. I take him everywhere, do everything with him,” Freeland said. “I lost my wife a year ago, so it’s tough. He makes up for that a little bit.”
Proving that emotional support from a pet comes in all shapes and sizes.
Father Nguyen says if you missed your parish’s Blessing of the Animals, not to worry. You can pray for or even with your pets at home by saying a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi.