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'Let the earth produce every kind of living creature'

| 16 Oct 2013 | 05:04
    Photos by Roger Gavan Jack and Lynne Koval presented their four Yorkshire Terriers: Ceile, Callahan, Shannon and Gretchen for a blessing by Rev. Michael McLoughlin, pastor of the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr. (Gretchen was named after Lynne KovalþÄôs first dog and missed out on an Irish name.
    Photos by Roger Gavan Jack and Lynne Koval presented their four Yorkshire Terriers: Ceile, Callahan, Shannon and Gretchen for a blessing by Rev. Michael McLoughlin, pastor of the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr. (Gretchen was named after Lynne KovalþÄôs first dog and missed out on an Irish name.
    The Rev. Michael McLoughlin blesses "Faco," a Percheron owned by Tony Aloia.
    The Rev. Michael McLoughlin blesses "Faco," a Percheron owned by Tony Aloia.

WARWICK — On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 13, the weather was picture perfect with blue skies and mild temperatures for the annual "Blessing of Animals," outside Warwick's Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.

St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Michael McLoughlin, had invited children and adults to bring their pets to the church that Sunday and he suggested that all kinds of animals, not just dogs and cats, were more than welcome.

As a result, this year there were horses and guinea pigs, and at least one serene cat among the usual contingent of dogs.

The ceremony is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century patron of animals and the environment, who is remembered for his love of all creatures.

The Feast Day of St. Francis is Oct. 4 and many Christian churches throughout the country, both Catholic and Protestant, conduct animal blessings on or about that day each year.

McLoughlin began the ceremony with a prayer and then read from the Book of Genesis, where God said: "Let the earth produce every kind of living creature in its own species," and that, "God saw that it was good."

McLoughlin then blessed each animal individually as the owners, standing in line with their pets, came forward and announced their breed and names. However, he made an exception for the horses.

After blessing the first horse that had been unloaded, a large Percheron, McLoughlin, noticed the time and effort it took and told owner, Tony Aloia, that he would bless the two other horses he brought while they were still in the trailer.

- Roger Gavan