Blessed are the faithful
| 23 Oct 2012 | 03:44
St. Stephenís Pastor, the Rev. Michael McLoughlin, blesses "Billy," a French bulldog owned by Jared Silbernagel, as Harrison Dempster (left), holding "Lewis," a Springer Spaniel, awaits his turn.
On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7, a large assembly of animals, all dogs, and their owners, gathered outside Warwick’s Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr. St. Stephen’s Pastor, Rev. Michael McLoughlin, had invited children and adults to bring their pets, large and small, to the church that Sunday for the annual “Blessing of Animals.” The ceremony is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century patron saint of animals and the environment, who is remembered for his love of all creatures. McLoughlin welcomed all the pet owners and suggested that they might learn something from their dogs who, he remarked, never worry and who are always faithful.
Photos by Roger Gavan