‘Animals are gifts from a loving Father’
By Wendy Shaw
Six precious pooches attended a Blessing of the Pets at the Burnie-Wynyard Parish to coincide with the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
Parish administrator Fr Jessie Banez said the event on 3 October on the lawns of Burnie’s St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church was a reminder that all are called to be good stewards of God’s creation.
“The feast of St Francis reminds us of the goodness of creation and that every living being has a place in it,” he said.
“Because all life is interconnected, we have a responsibility to care for the environment and every creature entrusted to us.”
Some parishioners brought along photos of pets unable to attend. Attendees were reminded of Pope Francis’s statement: “One day, we will see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all of God’s creatures.”
Fr Jessie said the event recognised that parishioners cherish their pets. It also followed occasions where parishioners encountered two special pets at church—vet’s dog Bonnie and assistance dog Merle.
Bonnie is a West Highland terrier belonging to vet Deb Chong. Deb worked in Launceston and became involved in ministry to the sick and homebound, altar serving and chaplaincy at the Launceston General Hospital. She also occasionally attended Mass at Burnie.
During weekends and after work, Deb and Bonnie brought the consecrated host to elderly members of the community.
Deb relates that late one night, with her phone on ‘silent mode’, she was woken by a distraught Bonnie.
Soon after, Deb noticed she had a missed call and text from the chaplain of the LGH, urgently seeking a priest to give the last rites to a patient in ICU.
“The moment I checked my phone and saw the message, I noticed that Bonnie stopped pawing and was now sitting patiently beside me, with her head cocked to one side and a look on her face that seemed to say ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’,” Deb relates.
Although it was 3am, Deb managed to get hold of a priest who reached the hospital in time to anoint and give absolution to the patient, who passed away shortly after.
Deb interpreted this as the ‘creative graciousness of God, whereby He sometimes uses the most unexpected of agents to show His love and magnanimity for us’.
Before this, Bonnie has never reacted to phone notifications.
“I truly believe the Holy Spirit worked through her that night and it’s a beautiful reminder that our animals are gifts and blessing from a very loving Father who is always by our side,” Deb said.
“The blessing and thanksgiving for these angels in disguise could thus not be more appropriate.”
Meanwhile, there are plans to hold another pet blessing in Burnie next year.