LIHUE — Mika, the year-old lamb, is a 1 percenter. That’s because 85 percent of the congregation consists of dogs, while cats fill out a bulk of the remaining field. There’s sometimes a horse or two, ducks and goats, but
LIHUE — Mika, the year-old lamb, is a 1 percenter.
That’s because 85 percent of the congregation consists of dogs, while cats fill out a bulk of the remaining field.
There’s sometimes a horse or two, ducks and goats, but lambs?
They’re few and far between.
Still, every animal is welcome — even stuffed ones — and Mika’s owner, Carla Dunn, thought what better pet could be blessed during St. Michael and All Angels Church’s animal blessing on Sunday?
Symbolic, even.
“It was very spiritual,” Dunn said, after Mika received her blessing at the annual event that caters to the four-legged, though pet owners are welcomed, too. “Jesus loved lambs, so we’re all lambs of God. I thought it was quite appropriate.”
The eighth annual blessing celebrated St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The feast of St. Francis was actually Friday, but the church waited until the nearest Sunday to turn their building into a pet sanctuary.
The service offered prayers and readings for all of God’s creations, singing the hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful” as a reminder that the creator molded a whole lot more than just people.
Plus, it’s the only time churchgoers can glimpse a kitten the aisle while a pit bull sits in the pew waiting its turn.
“It’s ridiculously fun,” said Father Bill Miller, who blessed the scores of animals who showed up with the 108 people who stopped by. “I can only imagine how much fun God had creating all these animals, all these critters.”
And it works, some said.
Patti Pruett brought her adopted dog Pele to the service. Last year, Pele was living at the Kauai Humane Society, in jeopardy of being put down if the dog couldn’t find a home. Pruett decided to adopt her after meeting Pele at last year’s blessing. She returned this year because both of their fortunes turned for the better after she adopted her pet.
“If she hadn’t come last year and hadn’t got her blessing, she wouldn’t be here today,” Pruett said, adding both she and her dog have lost weight from all the walks they’ve taken together. “It’s just a neat thing.”
Andrea Swinburnson brought her two dogs, Sophie and Daisy. It was Sophie’s second blessing inside the same church where her owner was married, and that first time was a powerful, emotional experience, Swinburnson said.
“It’s just wonderful,” she said.
After the prayers, animals lined up through the aisles and wandered up one by one to be blessed while the organist played the theme song to “Mr. Ed” and Snoopy’s song from “Peanuts.”
“I realize this is going to resemble holy chaos,” Miller told the packed house beforehand.
Sure, some dogs barked or pranced around with other animals waiting, but chaos, it wasn’t. After the ceremony, pets and owners mingled on the church’s lawn and ate snacks.
Still, the focus of the day was all pets, all the way. And not just dogs.
“We’ve had all kinds of animals,” Miller said, reflecting on the seven previous years before the eighth ceremony started. “We’ve had horses, rabbits, cats, goats. We’ve had photos of animals, stuffed animals. So yeah, we’ve had all kinds.”
• Tom Hasslinger, managing editor, can be reached at 245-0427 or thasslinger@thegardenisland.com.
