GLEN RIDGE, NJ — Christ Episcopal Church, in Glen Ridge, celebrated the blessing of the animals for the Feast of St. Francis on Saturday morning, Oct. 5. The feast day is traditionally observed Oct. 4.
About a dozen people arrived at the church, dutifully led by pets on a leash. About seven dogs and one cat, in a carrier, came. A service and blessing was to be conducted by Rev. Diana Wilcox. She wore the animal-embroidered sash of her ordination.
“We do this blessing because our animal companions show us the love of God,” Wilcox said before the service. “He has blessed us with them. We team with PAWS because we believe in those in need, animals or humans, is our calling.”
PAWS is the acronym for Pound Animal Welfare Society, of Montclair.
David Drislane, of Bloomfield, helped to organize the blessing. He brought his two dogs, Dottie and Sadie.
Once everyone was inside the church and seated, Wilcox told them that the blessing of the animals is one of her favorite ceremonies.
“There’s nothing your animals can do that will upset us,” she said. “The floor is wood.”
There was a little introductory barking between some of the dogs, for a short time, but not much and not a growl. As they do, the cat just watched and listened.
All the animals, from what the owners said, seemed to have been adopted.
One woman, Roberta Fisher, of Clifton, said both her dogs, Spanky and Tex, were 7 years old and came from the same household three years ago. They had to be adopted together.
“I put my application in and won the lottery,” she said.
Michael Loconte, of Halcyon Park, Bloomfield, brought his dog, Delilah. The next day, Oct. 6, was her birthday. She would be 11. Loconte has had Delilah since she was 5 weeks old. Joe Durham, of Bloomfield, brought his cat, Cheyenne. Somewhat incredibly, the cat had a middle name. It was Grey Fox.
The first reading of the service was from the Book of Job. In part, the reading said to ask the animals and they will teach you; the birds in the air, and they will tell you; the fish of the sea, and they will declare to you.
The second reading was from Ecclesiastes. The words were, in part:
“I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.”
The third reading was from the naturalist Henry Beston. He said animals shall not be measured by man.
“They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations.”
Concluding the service, Wilcox went from animal to animal, blessing each, kneeling beside them or By Daniel Jackovino
Staff Writer
Christ Episcopal Church, in Glen Ridge, celebrated the blessing of the animals for the Feast of St. Francis on Saturday morning, Oct. 5. The feast day is traditionally observed Oct. 4.
About a dozen people arrived at the church, dutifully led by pets on a leash. About seven dogs and one cat, in a carrier, came. A service and blessing was to be conducted by Rev. Diana Wilcox. She wore the animal-embroidered sash of her ordination.
“We do this blessing because our animal companions show us the love of God,” Wilcox said before the service. “He has blessed us with them. We team with PAWS because we believe in those in need, animals or humans, is our calling.”
PAWS is the acronym for Pound Animal Welfare Society, of Montclair.
David Drislane, of Bloomfield, helped to organize the blessing. He brought his two dogs, Dottie and Sadie.
Once everyone was inside the church and seated, Wilcox told them that the blessing of the animals is one of her favorite ceremonies.
“There’s nothing your animals can do that will upset us,” she said. “The floor is wood.”
There was a little introductory barking between some of the dogs, for a short time, but not much and not a growl. As they do, the cat just watched and listened.
All the animals, from what the owners said, seemed to have been adopted.
One woman, Roberta Fisher, of Clifton, said both her dogs, Spanky and Tex, were 7 years old and came from the same household three years ago. They had to be adopted together.
“I put my application in and won the lottery,” she said.
Michael Loconte, of Halcyon Park, Bloomfield, brought his dog, Delilah. The next day, Oct. 6, was her birthday. She would be 11. Loconte has had Delilah since she was 5 weeks old. Joe Durham, of Bloomfield, brought his cat, Cheyenne. Somewhat incredibly, the cat had a middle name. It was Grey Fox.
The first reading of the service was from the Book of Job. In part, the reading said to ask the animals and they will teach you; the birds in the air, and they will tell you; the fish of the sea, and they will declare to you.
The second reading was from Ecclesiastes. The words were, in part:
“I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.”
The third reading was from the naturalist Henry Beston. He said animals shall not be measured by man.
“They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations.”
Concluding the service, Wilcox went from animal to animal, blessing each, kneeling beside them or taking them in her hands and whispering a prayer only they could hear.
Following this, Drislane presented PAWS representatives with a check for $400, and assorted supplies. And when they departed, dog, cat, woman, man, all were at peace.
taking them in her hands and whispering a prayer only they could hear.
Following this, Drislane presented PAWS representatives with a check for $400, and assorted supplies. And when they departed, dog, cat, woman, man, all were at peace.
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