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Furry friends both big and small waited in line with their owners at St. Michael’s Chapel, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, to be blessed at the second ever Blessing of the Animals event Oct. 14, 2021. Father Ignatius Madumere, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Bingol, and Lt. Ailsa Harl conducted the blessings.
For many Catholics, it’s tradition to bring their pets to the local parish to be blessed by a priest in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Although this day is usually observed by the locals of Assisi, Italy, Catholics around the world follow his teachings and bless their animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis died on Oct. 3, 1226 and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. St. Francis is a popular and beloved saint for his care of impoverished people, animals and the environment. The feast is now celebrated annually on Oct. 4, a day after his death, which coincides with World Animal Day.
“It's a time where we’re blessing animals from birds, to dogs, to cats, to horses,” said Lt. Ailsa Harl, Staff Chaplain at MCAS Cherry Point. “It is all about honoring the sacred relationship between humans and animals.”
Civilians and service members alike slowly trickled in with their pets and military working dogs to be blessed. The chaplains met everyone outside, each with an aspergillum in hand with holy water to bless the animals. The chaplains stood in front of each person and inquired about their furry companions before blessing them. The event then ended with happy conversation as everyone talked about their pets and the experience of having them blessed.
“I have been participating in the Blessing of Animals since 1995 as an ordained pastor,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Bingol Command Chaplain for MCAS Cherry Point. “I look forward to it every year, it is an incredible opportunity to celebrate how the military has working animals and the history and tradition of working animals in the Marine Corps.”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2021 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 407639 |
| Location: | NEW BERN, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Blessing of the Animals, by Cpl Michele Clarke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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