Trinity Holds Blessing Of The Animals

Tuesday, October 4, at 6 pm more than 50 people gathered in the Trinity Episcopal Church’s undercroft for the annual celebration of St Francis with the Blessing of the Animals.

Among those attending were a butterfly, hermit crabs, guinea pigs, hamsters, a rabbit, many dogs, cats, and a cow. The service animals in the community were invited and Officer Stinson of the Newtown Police Dept. came with his dog Baro.

The cow was owned by Steve and Diana Paproski of Castle Hill Farm and created quite a stir when it mooed in the middle of the reading of The Canticle of the Sun, which was written by St Francis. Hymns were sung and prayers said for animals all over the world including those who lost their lives or their owners during the recent hurricanes. Then each animal was blessed by either the Rev Kathie Adams-Shepherd, pastor, or the Rev Carol Westpfahl.