They came out in force for the special church ceremony, wagging tails, watching intently, and waiting for a special treat before the service began.
These were not ordinary parishioners attending church on Sunday. With furry snouts and an occasional bark, area pets hoped for a special prayer during Sunday's Blessing of the Animals ceremonies, held at several churches in the area.
The day honors pets and animals and the contributions they make in the lives of their owners. Ceremonies were held in Derry and Chester to honor the occasion, the official Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.
In Derry, both the Church of the Transfiguration and St. Thomas Aquinas hosted animal blessing ceremonies. At St. Thomas, pets lined up in the church's side yard to await a blessing and special pat on the nose. Church of the Transfiguration's Pastor Sue Lesueur, placed her hands on many animals in attendance, including Forrest and Bubba, a pair of perky ferrets belonging to church acolyte Joe Durling.
In Chester, it was the 14th annual Blessing of the Pets ceremony, led by Rev. Beverly Lindsey, who brought along her special companion, Oreo, a black and white cocker spaniel hoping for a special prayer.
As pets gathered in the grassy field behind the historic Chester Congregational Baptist Church, Lindsey welcomed everyone for the annual event, something she said was very fitting to do as animals are so important, and blessing their lives is an age-old ritual.
"It's an ancient tradition in the universal church," she said. "We are happy to carry on this tradition."
And in Chester, the tradition is a popular one. As the pet blessing progressed through the years, it wasn't unusual to see horses, chickens, and even fish attend the annual ceremony. This year, about eight dogs, a cat, and even two pet rats made an appearance.
Sally Stansbury, of Derry, brought along a photo album showing images of her beloved 13-year-old cat, Cheddar. The cat is very ill, Stansbury said, and could not be there in person.
"She's dying of diabetes," she said. "That's why I came today. I brought a photo album."
And Lindsey looked at Stansbury's photos of Cheddar and offered a long-distance prayer to the feline back home.
Other pets included Abby, owned by Penny Henderson; Layla, a beagle owned by Stephanie Ramirez, and Peanut, a pet rat busy scurrying in and out of the shirt of its owner Jen Anderson.
All pets received Lindsey's personal attention and even a treat for good behavior.
Sheltie Bo was very well behaved, according to his owner Rita Barrett, of Sandown. Barrett came to the ceremony to receive prayers for not only Bo, but for Gracie Allen, a gray cat lounging happily in her carrier while prayers were offered. Both animals were rescued by Barrett, who decided she wanted to keep them for herself.
As all pets were blessed, Lindsey said the animals should be honored for their unconditional love, companionship, and the enjoyable routine they offer their owners.
"As well as our daily exercise," Lindsey added.
