Megan Connelly comforts Sonny during the Oct. 3 Dog Blessing in the Outdoor Chapel.

Honoring and blessing our dogs

Well-behaved and attentive — for the most part — 15 dogs and their owners took part in our church’s Oct. 3 renewal of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Dog Blessing in the outdoor chapel.

After reading animal-related passages from scripture, Rev. Ruth Morrison walked along the chapel’s benches, blessing each dog individually, while offering gentle words to a wide assortment of four-legged friends.  Most stood on their own while Ruth addressed the dogs, but some felt the comfort of being cradled by their owners while receiving the blessing.

Rev. Ruth Morrison reads scripture during the Dog Blessing while Meggie listens intently.

Following the blessings, Katie Connelly offered each dog a biscuit  — or two — while Camille Braun followed with a blessing certificate for each owner.

Before and after the blessing, owners were given the opportunity to paint smooth-faced rocks with their dog’s names to either leave in the chapel or take home as a remembrance of the event.

Carolyn Morong paints her dog's name on a remembrance rock.

Our church was one of seven in Greater Portland to host an animal blessing on Oct. 3, honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

Click here for more images of the Oct. 3 blessing:

After being at the church supper on Saturday night and in the sanctuary for the service on Sunday morning, Audrey Jordan's flowers were in the outdoor chapel for the Dog Blessing.