...Of Wonderful Things...
All creatures - the great, the small...
...Heartwarming, I thought.
...and even the Cats do too!!!
...Who would have guessed that???
From Australia:
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 It is said that every dog has its day, but as ‘Blessing of the Animals’ services are taking place in churches and other venues across the country, some felines, frogs, rabbits, and even the odd pet rat, have their days, too. |
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 Fr Roger F. Kelly is pictured above and below at last year's 'Blessing of Animals' at the Anglican Church of St James the Great. |
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The Feast of St Francis, otherwise known as the ‘Blessing of the Animals’, is once again being commemorated in parishes around Melbourne, as it is around Australia and around the world. It is said that every dog has its day, but as ‘Blessing of the Animals’ services are taking place in churches and other venues across the country, some felines, frogs, rabbits, and even the odd pet rat, have their days, too.
The services are traditionally held to celebrate all creatures and are attended by a variety of animals from the local parishes (on leashes or in pet containers), plus their humans. A fun event for children, animal lovers and their furry friends alike, the services usually including a special Mass and a procession of animals to the altar. Services are generally ecumenical and they welcome people and pets from other religions and parishes.
The ceremonies mark the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian monk renown for his love of animals, with the theme of being aware of our surroundings and on loving and respecting those fellow creatures, which share the earth with us. The day has become an occasion for people to celebrate the sheer diversity of life on our planet and the bond so many of us share with our non-human friends.
Usually held on the Sunday closest to his the feast day, Oct. 4, also known as World Animal Day, here in Melbourne, hundreds of people and their pets went to the beach outside the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club on Sunday, October 2.
Being as much about building community as it is about the Blessing of the Animals, the ceremony at Port Melbourne incorporated western and eastern traditions and all pets, as well as cats and dogs. Blessington Ward councillor Dick Gross, who is the proud owner of two Jack Russell terriers called Milky and Milo, welcomed participants. A Buddhist nun and a friar with the Franciscan Order performed the blessings.
Cr Gross said that the council and community organisations were keen to promote the power of pets in improving residents' health and wellbeing. "Countless studies both in Australia and overseas have revealed the powerful role that pets play in promoting health and well-being. Wagging tails, contented purrs and adoring looks are all ways pets can communicate with people and demonstrate their devotion. All the little acts of feeding, grooming and exercising pets make their owners feel needed. People out walking their dogs have a greater tendency to socialise with passers-by. The added exercise is good for the health of dog owners too. Even gently stroking pets can reduce stress and lower blood pressure levels. In some cases, having a pooch or a moggie gives people a reason to live."
And if you didn’t, or couldn’t, make it to Port Melbourne Beach, on the following Sunday, October 9, the 12th annual Blessing of Animals - St Francis Festival of the Animals - also took place at the Anglican Church of St James The Great in East St Kilda. The guest speaker at this event was Port Phillip mayor, Darren Ray, who is the proud owner off an 18 month-old Jack Russell.
The Church of St James the Great is a small Anglican community set in the midst of East St Kilda’s well known orthodox Jewish community. Many St James people are members of the Council of Christians and Jews. In addition to the annual "Blessing of Animals", the community is known for its outreach through its activities such as the establishment of a Steiner Pre-School and the Malvern Community School at St James The Great. The church is set on one hectare of beautiful treed landscape well used by the schools and by groups who come to participate in the life of the Parish.
