LUCY, A BLACK AND white Siberian husky, was a day or two from being euthanized at a high-kill animal shelter when she was saved by AllJoy 4 Paws, a Southern California dog rescue that saves huskies and northern breeds.
ADRIANA TRUJILLO OF SAN DIEGO BROUGHT HER RESCUE DOG LUCY TO ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH’S ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Adriana Trujillo of San Diego then provided Lucy with her forever home. Trujillo and Lucy made the drive from San Diego to St. Norbert Catholic Church in Orange, where they were among dozens of God’s beloved creatures and their owners who gathered for the annual Blessing of the Animals on Sept. 27.
“We wanted her to receive the Holy Spirit,” Trujillo said. “We want to keep her safe, which I think she already has been safe, given that she was one of the small percent that made it out of shelter. After opening the ceremony with a prayer, St. Norbert’s pastor, Fr. John Moneypenny, made his way around the ramada, blessing each beloved pet with a sprinkle of holy water from his aspergillum.
One family wanted a special blessing for their dog, who had been stricken with cancer and would likely not survive, the pastor said.
PARISHIONERS GATHERED ON SEPT. 27 FOR ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH’S ANNUAL; BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS.
“So, it brings relief and comfort for the family member,” Fr. John said. “We have some kittens, we have some cats, we have some birds. Many here bring their pets every year. Last year we had goldfish and a snake.”
FR. JOHN MONEYPENNY, PASTOR OF ST. NORBERT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE, BLESSES A DOG DURING A SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS.
The Blessing of the Animals typically takes place on or around Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.
In his song, “Canticle of the Creatures,” St. Francis wrote: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather, through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.”
A 2-month-old kitten named Ginger spent the entire ceremony relaxing contentedly in the lap of Sr. Angela Callahan of St. Norbert, who acknowledged her fondness for kittens.
“Oh, it was fun,” Sr. Callahan said. “I think Fr. John did a lovely job. And that kitty was so good. I couldn’t believe how good he was. You could almost talk to him and he’s only 2 months old.”
Sr. Callahan, incidentally, belongs to the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the founders of St. Norbert Catholic School.
Fr. Erialdo Ramírez, parochial vicar at St. Norbert, brought his cats, 3-year-old Mina, and 4-month-old Cheese Puff, who was being blessed for the first time.
“It’s a blessing from God,” Fr. Ramírez said. “To continue to show consolation, protection from God, through these animals, these creatures.”
Debra Laisure said her 5-year-old basset hound Keisha, a rescue, “is probably the sweetest dog I’ve ever owned.”
“She’s got some medical issues,” said Laisure, a longtime parishioner at St. Norbert. “But that’s ok. We’ll take care of it.” Nina and Stuart Maginnis brought their Airedale terrier mix Norm to be blessed. Norm, a rescue from Hawaii, has arthritis and a weak leg, Nina said, and when asked why they brought him to St. Norbert for a blessing, the answer was obvious.
“Who wouldn’t want to be blessed?” she asked.