Blessings for pets
PARKVIEW – Pets shown how precious they are at a special blessing service held at St Francis Anglican Church.
No matter what pet you have, they end up becoming part of your family one way or another.
St Francis Anglican Church held their annual Blessing of Pets service to show how precious pets and animals are. The blessing is based on the rich tradition of St Francis of Assisi, who held that all of God’s creatures are precious.
Pet owners gathered for their usual Sunday service – but this time with their beloved pets. “The joy, companionship and devotion between people and their pets was clear during the service. By bringing them for a blessing, those who attended were demonstrating their commitment to the wellbeing of their animals,” said Sue Jordaan, a member of the church.
Watch a beloved pet getting blessed below:
Silkworms, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and dogs all queued up for a special blessing in the setting of the church garden by Reverend Jonathan Meintjes who had brought his dog, Gabby, for a blessing as well. Attendees of the service said a prayer of thanks for all the animals and sang a hymn about animals and their creator.
The pets were given the freedom to walk around the garden and enjoy themselves, as the service was all about them.
Rector of the St Francis Anglican Parish, Father Tim Gray, said: “I was overjoyed to see so many pets, including over 30 dogs, as well as rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and silkworms. Caring for our own animals is the place where we start in caring for our wider environment, with its threatened rhinos and other endangered species, as well as the land and water on which we depend.”
Details: St Francis Anglican Church 011 646 2660.
