The Australian Catholic University could have given Noah’s Ark a run for its money, with creatures great and small attending the Banyo campus’ annual blessing ceremony led by Franciscan Father Harry Chan, the Catholic Leader reports.
Fr Harry welcomed all walks of wildlife from feathery folk to four legged friends.
“Our Blessing of the Animals Day is such a wonderful opportunity to honour our beloved animals,” he said with a smile.
Fr Harry Chan OFM blesses a four-legged friend attending the ACU Banyo Blessing of the Animals event with its owner. (PHOTO: Catholic Leader)
“Animals bring such joy to people, and they generate conversations and community among us.
“Even complete strangers will ask to pat an animal.”
The celebration honoured the upcoming feast day of Saint Francis Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.
Whether paws, claws or beaks, Fr Harry said “any animal was welcome”.
Many university staff and students brought their pets to receive a blessing and recorded their paw print in paint.
Among them was six-year-old Australian stock horse Ash and her dedicated trainer Jenny Kemp.
“I think my parents introduced me to horses so I wouldn’t be distracted by boys,” Mrs Kemp said with a laugh.
“It worked, because decades later I still love horses.”
Mrs Kemp and Ash were currently training for an equitation competition in October.
She hoped today’s blessing might give him an “edge on his competitors”.
“Anything you can have in your back pocket has got to be good,” she said.
“He’s a very special horse.”
Despite the chorus of neighs, woofs and squawks, a tiny reptile secretly stole the show.
Five-month-old turtle Kiwi debuted and delighted curious crowd members during the blessing ceremony.
“We wanted to give Kiwi a blessed start to her life,” owner Isabelle Lys explained.
“Hopefully, she [Kiwi] will feel safe and calm in our home.”
KM Smith therapy dog Archie was a regular recipient of Fr Harry’s blessings and could be mistaken for a giant teddy bear.
Funeral director Adrienne Smith said Archie had a “beautiful and gentle “temperament” which was essential for grieving families.
“When people are dealing with trauma, they often benefit from a distraction or need something to make them laugh.
“That is exactly what Archie does.”
Veterinarian and pet loss grief expert, Dr Michael O’Donoghue understood the “extraordinary impact” animals have on human’s lives.
“Today’s blessing is a wonderful recognition of our companionship with animals,” he said
“Our pets are non-judgemental; they don’t care about our clothes or our status.
“Animals simply love us for who we are.”
This article by Hannah Kennelly was published in The Catholic Leader.