Bring your pet to Sacred Heart Church on 26 October to be blessed by Father Raja
A blessing of animals will be ceremonially performed on 26 October by Father Raja Duggimpudi at Sacred Heart Church, Sai Kung. Everyone is welcome at 4.30 pm that day, even if you’re not Catholic. You may bring your dog, cat, bird, gecko, iguana, chameleon — any animal at all, says the good priest who laughs a lot.
Father Raja says as each person brings their pet towards him at the altar he will say a few prayers for the animal and its companion, offer some thoughts on the pet’s care, then bless it by sprinkling holy water. Raja is laughing again: “Some of the animals react, what’s this guy doing sprinkling me with water, it’s a cute reaction.” Laughter is echoing through the phone line. This is a nice guy.
The blessing is performed in honor and in memory of St Francis of Assisi (1181 — 1226) who was one of the earliest advocates of animal welfare. He believed that nature is the mirror of God*. He called all creatures his brothers and sisters and even preached to birds. At Gubbio in Italy, a wolf attacked village people. Francis is said to have persuaded the wolf to stop attacking the people if they fed it.
It you want to pay a personal tribute to one of the most venerated people in Christianity, visit the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, the mother church at Umbria, central Italy, where St Francis was born and died.
*This is reminiscent of Pastor Fowles, the most lovable character in Barbara Kingsolver’s classic novel, The Poisonwood Bible: ” See the flowers, see the birds — there’s your gospel.”
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