THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: 69 lines
It being the first Sunday in October, Boomer the root-beer brown Labrador retriever and I attended the late-afternoon blessing of the animals at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Norfolk.
It was Boomer's first such experience and my second. Years ago, in Virginia Beach, I escorted two Labs, Barney, a female yellow Lab, and Ty, a black male Lab. That ceremony for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi was not without incident.
Ty and a German shepherd didn't take their eyes off one another, uttering deep-chested growls time to time as to what they would do if they only had the chance't.
Elegant Barney was quite stately until, as we were leaving, she spied in a corner of a stage a large green bag of Purina Dog Chow and rushed over to investigate.
Before the start of the observance Sunday at Good Shepherd, The Rev. John M. Eidam assured an early worshiper that, unlike the custom at regular services, the worshipers and their pets start filling the pews first down near the front. The pets numbered in the 90s.
Boomer and I met two cats, Midnight and Parfait; three parakeets, Angel, Holly and Wonka; a beautiful golden retriever, Tanner; three dogs in one family: two handsome Labs, Sussex, a black one, and Hudson, a yellow one, and Surry a Jack Russell terrier.
We also greeted, from afar, Sam, a huge American bulldog, white with neat black swatches on its body, and a ferocious-looking mug.
Parson Eidam said later that he checked his five fingers after blessing Sam who, he said, was as gentle as a lamb.
There were no untoward occurences. In the rear of the church, two dogs embellished the singing of hymns with high-pitched barks here and there, but they were not clamorous. Indeed, they seemed to know when to pitch in. Nobody, human or hound, howled. Boomer, who had been intent and curious, soon settled under foot in a snooze.
In the lesson, Morgan Bond read three passages from Genesis. The Covenant with Noah, the program noted, expresses God's providential care for ``every living creature of all flesh.''
In a short address, preacher Eidam observed that St. Francis, from a well-to-do family, took a view of simplicity after a series of serious experiences and began to see God's presence in all nature.
Eidam also blessed the relationship between the pets and their companions as reflecting God's love for all his creations.
Donations during the offertory hymn, ``All Things Bright and Beautiful,'' were for the Norfolk SPCA.
Preacher Eidam said later he was interested in what each feast would bring. At a church in Plano, Texas, he was called upon to bless a Brahma bull in the parking lot. ILLUSTRATION: ABOUT THE FEAST ST. FRANCIS
Episcopal and other churches celebrate the first Sunday in October
by inviting pets to their serrvices. St. Francis is known for seeing
God's presence in all nature.
[Color Photos]
VICKI CRONIS photos
The Virginian-Pilot
Austin Miklos, 3, and Bruno await their turn Sunday at Good
Samaritan Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach.
Bruno appears to take an immediate liking to the Rev. Robert
Lundquist while being blessed Sunday at Good Samaritan Episcopal.
Lundquist also blessed cats, a hamster, a horse and even an iguana. by CNB