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Pet Blessings
Pets make more than faithful companions
By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
October 4, 2007
It’s no secret that priests and vowed sisters call themselves “servants,” but some also hold the title of “master.”
More than a handful of priests and sisters throughout the diocese are masters to their pet dogs, cats and fish. They began caring for these creatures for fun and companionship, but many found that their pets aid in ministry as well.
Catholics will recognize the dignity of their brother and sister creatures near Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
Fr. Larry Weidner, pastor at St. Joan of Arc Parish, raised three dogs in his 27 years as a priest — two cocker spaniels and now Bentley, a Western Highland Terrier.
“He was named that because he was expensive and fast, just like the car,” Fr. Weidner said. He confessed it took him three weeks to name the energetic, white dog that was his Christmas present one year.
Another of Fr. Weidner’s pets helped bring the spirit of Christmas to not only his household, but also to thousands of parishioners.
Cocker spaniel Juliette played the black sheep in the children’s Christmas pageant the parish performed for years. Fr. Weidner noted Juliette replaced the real sheep because the canine could sit still longer and didn’t eat the poinsettias.
Gretchen, his buff-colored cocker and first pet as a priest, was trained to visit hospital patients. Fr. Weidner noted she was especially beneficial to arthritis patients who petted her because Gretchen’s body heat served as a natural pain reliever. She also visited senior citizens in the adult daycare center on parish grounds.
Now, it’s Bentley’s turn to continue the tradition of aiding his master in ministry. He works at the parish every Thursday where he serves as the office greeter. Sometimes, he visits the preschoolers and “just licks them to death,” Fr. Weidner said.
Bentley has shown a therapeutic side to himself, too, whenever distraught people are in with the pastor.
“I noticed when they’re petting him, they calm down,” Fr. Weidner said.
His main job, though, is “security for our campus,” the pastor said. Bentley’s staff photo of himself in a black and red cape even hangs beside other staff members on the wall beside the church’s doors.
Fr. Loren Gonzales hired his whippet mix for the same position at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Peoria. The pastor grew up with various pets and decided it was time for another one nearly eight years ago when he rescued Oreo, a black dog with a white belly.
“He’s become the office pet as well as our watchdog,” Fr. Gonzales said. The 30-pound pooch has the body of a greyhound, “but only a little chunkier.”
“He’s extremely protective,” the priest said, yet remains friendly. He’s close to parish staff members and expands his social network when the pair walks together for an hour-and-a-half each morning and evening.
“We meet folks all the time,” Fr. Gonzales said. “They just spoil him.”
Friendliness was a trait the Benedictine sisters sought when choosing a pet with whom to share Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery in West Phoenix. They settled on Benito, a yellow lab who will be 6 next month.
“Benito is wonderful as a Benedictine. He has a whole spirit of welcoming,” Sr. Linda Campbell said. He “believes everyone is his friend.”
Benito and the sisters routinely welcome Catholics who use the monastery as a retreat facility. Frequent guests ask for and play with Benito on the two-acre property.
Inside the monastery the sisters’ freshwater fish also capture the affections of those on retreat. The women got the fish for the children when they ran a daycare.
The Poor Clare Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Black Canyon City originally got two cats to help with rodent control around the convent.
“The big ones are really great hunters,” Sr. Esther Marie said, referring to Nibbs and Fatty, their gray, Russian blue cats. They recently inherited Darcy and Rochester, both gray Tabbies, as kittens from a litter someone found.
Their favorite toy is the sisters’ knotted cord, which hangs from the women’s waist.
“They fit into religious life well,” Sr. Esther said of all four cats.
Like the sisters, they share their gifts for the benefit of the community. For the cats, that means taking care of rodents, insects and scorpions.
The sisters noticed the cats often leave the fruits of their labor in front of the Holy Family statue. It’s “their little offering,” Sr. Esther suggested.
The feast day of St. Francis is particularly meaningful for the sisters, who follow his spiritual charism. And while the kittens haven’t been at the convent for the feast day yet, Franciscan Father Miguel Marie blessed them during his recent visit.
“They reflect something of His goodness: unconditional love and companionship,” Sr. Esther said of all household pets.
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