Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Blessing of the Animals 100717
Blessing of the Animals 100717
Espiscopalian Church of the Good Shepherd Pastor Paul Moore blesses an 18 1/2 year-old dog.
Blessing of the Animals 100717
Double-blessed dog by Pastor Moore and St. Francis Newman Center Pastor Jaroslaw "Jarek" Nowacki.
Blessing of the Animals 100717
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Pastor Father Oliver Obele and Moore and Catholic Father Nowacki flank Alessandra and Jorge Martinez holding Browny, Woofy and Teddy.
Blessing of the Animals 100717
Father Nowacki blesses Cupcake, owned by Victoria York.
Blessing of the Animals 100717
The whole contingent of pastors blessing animals, from left are Earseye Ross of Brewer Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Father Nowacki, Father Moore, Father Oliver and new Brewer Hill Church pastor Waldo Winborn
Blessing of the Animals 100717
Mia Lawrence, 6, and Kahlan Lawrence, 3, play with Churchy, the turtle at the blessing of animals.
The annual blessing of animals, which takes place near or on the Feast of St. Francis, happened at Penny Park on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.
A contingent of local pastors took part in the blessing, as animals, large and small, with their owners made their way to the park. Brewer Hill Missionary Baptist Church also offered food, in addition to former pastor Earseye Ross and newly named pastor, Waldo Winborn offering blessings. Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Pastor Father Paul Moore has performed the blessings for years. He was joined this year by Roman Catholic Church pastors Father Jaroslaw "Jarek" Nowacki of St. Francis Newman Center and Father Oliver Obele of St. Vincent de Paul.