Tails were wagging at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 761 King St. on Sunday, Oct. 4, during the annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony in observance of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Greenwich, Conn., resident Jan Brennan, a parish nurse, bows her head as Pastor Jim O’Hanlon gives her dog Gwendolyn a blessing.
White Plains resident Russell Fulmore holds onto his dog Dexter, who eagerly wants to go play with the other, much smaller dogs waiting to receive their blessings.
Before St. Paul’s Pastor Jim O’Hanlon gives a blessing to Bella the golden retriever, she happily rolls around on the grass. The joyful pup was at the ceremony with her sitter Teri Corbo of Greenwich, Conn.
St. Paul’s Pastor Jim O’Hanlon begins the Blessing of the Animals in observance of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The church also collected pet food for the Humane Society of Westchester and monetary donations for FURRR 911.
Greenwich, Conn. resident Jen Mason keeps her dog Betty calm as she eagerly looks around hoping to make some new friends.
Stamford, Conn., resident Chip Gawle pets his dog Sammy to remind him he is a good boy before he receives a blessing.
All kinds of animals received a blessing during the ceremony! Rye residents Ava and Audrey Gallego (right), along with their mother Katie, receive a benediction from St. Paul’s Pastor Jim O’Hanlon for their stuffed animals.
