Eagle Scout pet monument showcased in animal blessing

Sam Desmond

Posted 10/5/23

On Sunday, Oct. 1, St. John’s Episcopalian Church in Oakdale hosted an animal blessing for friends with fur, feathers, and fins in honor of a recently completed St. Francis, the patron saint of …

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Eagle Scout pet monument showcased in animal blessing

Mother Bernadette addressed the congregants, both two- and four-legged, about the importance of genuflecting to nature to achieve spirituality.

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Siblings Dudley and Percy could not contain their excitement to receive their blessing.

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Therapy dog Gabby, who has been a fixture at local hospitals, was brought by her handler Joann, who spoke of Gabby’s kisses to patients, “washing their whole faces.”

SCN/Desmond

Posted Wednesday, October 4, 2023 12:00 am

Sam Desmond

On Sunday, Oct. 1, St. John’s Episcopalian Church in Oakdale hosted an animal blessing for friends with fur, feathers, and fins in honor of a recently completed St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, monument that was Noah Johnson’s Eagle Scout project.

The St. Francis monument was built in honor of Johnson’s pet rabbit, a forgetful 10-year-old, who died earlier this year.

Mother Bernadette, a retired Episcopalian pastor, led the ceremony and spoke of St. Francis’s “generosity to the poor” and “legendary love of nature.”

There was some barking from the audience and Mother Bernadette assured embarrassed owners that this was a sign of the four-legged friends “participating” in the prayers.