Marcelin Fernandes, a resident of Chicalim, loves cuddling her two dogs, a Labrador and a mix breed, as well as her Persian cat – and that was obvious at the annual Pet Blessing at St Francis Xavier Church in Chicalim, as she waited to get her pets blessed.
On October 4, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and animals, a large number of pets were blessed and prayed over by Fr Peter Judas Fernandes, the assistant to the parish priest of Chicalim, at the fourth edition of the Pet Blessing organised by the St Francis Xavier Chicalim Parish Youth in association with the Diocesan Commission for Ecology.
Marcelin, who was cuddling her pets, said she has always loved to have pets around her. In addition to the pets she brought for the blessing, she also has a few fowls at home.
“All my pets share a very cordial relationship. A few years ago, I also had pigs, but now it gets too difficult to manage so many animals. My granddaughter also loves animals and we share that bond,” she said, as she was being showered with kisses by her pet dogs.
Fr Bolmax Pereira, Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier Church, revealed that October 4 is celebrated as World Animal Day. He said, “This is the concluding day of the Season of Creation under Laudato Si, although the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman concludes it officially on the first Sunday of October, the ongoing week being the Season of Creation week.”
He added, “There are many quotes from the Bible which mention animals and this is the special time to bless them.”
Speaking on the blessing of the pets, Fr Bolmax said, “When the initial call was given to us to establish the Ecology Commission in Goa, as the convenor nominated by the Archbishop to head the Commission, ‘Blessing of the Pets’ was the quickest response I could consider since St Francis of Assisi was the Patron Saint of Ecology and Animals. Caring for our pets is the most common thing that we do every day, hence I thought this initiative was fitting.”
All my pets share a very cordial relationship. A few years ago, I also had pigs, but now it gets too difficult to manage so many animals. My granddaughter also loves animals and we share that bond.
Marceline Fernandes, a devotee from Chicalim
Joshel, who got her pet cat for blessing, said she has never missed the blessing and was there for the fourth year in a row.
Among the pets were dog breeds like Shih Tzu, German Sheperds, Great Dane, Labradors and a large number of cats. The blessing concluded with a talent hunt, where the pet parents showcased their pet skills and abilities.
The event, sponsored by Wiggle Butts, the pet food store, was truly a paw-some pet blessing at Chicalim. It was a tribute to the man-animal bond and display of unconditional love that's lacking in the world today.