We Love Our Pets
Last month I had the honor to bless a horse on a farm in Bedminster, NJ. It was a beautiful day to be outside with a blue sky, low humidity and summer temperatures. As I arrived I was taken to the barn to meet Alexa (aka Wedding Planner), the horse for the blessing. I provided some treats to Alexa prior to the blessing with hope that the horse would be comfortable with me. The owner of the horse and her mom proudly took some pictures of me with the horse coupled with themselves. I was also introduced to another horse named BO which was a former race horse who never won a race with total earnings that amounted to $0.00. Alexa was led out of the stable, and walked to a grassy area of the farm beneath a tree for the blessing.
At this moment the boyfriend of the owner of the horse showed up which brought tears to the woman’s eyes as we readied ourselves for the blessing. After reading a passage from Genesis about God’s creation and praying the Our Father and some Intercessory Prayers, I sprinkled holy water upon Alexa which caused her to jump with each sprinkle. Upon completion of the blessing, I was given some treats to give Alexa, but more importantly I realized how much the blessing meant to the owner who hugged me and thanked me for coming to the barn. The experience reminded me of the love that people have for their pets/animals.
Next Sunday, October 1 at 1:00 p.m. outside of the entrance to the Fr. Ed Center a celebration that blesses pets and animals takes place. This is always an enriching gathering in that it is so enchanting to see the love that is shared between pets and their owners as well as the enjoyment pets bring to people. It is the tradition at the parish that the newest priest/deacon celebrates the gathering, which gives the honor to Fr. Chris. Although there is no particular prayer/blessing that must be used for this celebration, one blessing I often use is: “Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air, and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his sisters and brothers. We ask you to bless these pets. By the power of your love, enable these pets to live in accordance to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”
There is little information on the way blessings for pets and animals originated, however it is evident that these creatures draw us closer to God since they are part of God’s creation. Many trace the blessing of pets and animals to the life of St. Francis of Assisi, which is celebrated on Wednesday, October 4. the day of his passing. St. Francis possessed tremendous love for all of God’s creation, which included pets and animals. Many in the church believe that there is hardly a saint more known and loved than Francis who was born in 1182 in Assisi, Italy and was the son of wealthy parents. While growing up Francis spent much time with friends in the pursuit of pleasure by drinking and partying till late hours in that it was not until Francis experienced a long illness that he had time to reflect upon his life and God’s plan for him. This led to his conversion and the foundation of the Franciscan family, which today is made up of priests, sisters, brothers, and lay people. In his later years Francis reverted to a quiet, reflective lifestyle with a heart smothered in joy, love, and peace.
All are welcome next Sunday, October 1, at 1:00 p.m.to bring a pet or animal to the grounds outside the parish center for a special blessing. The service consists of a short prayer, reading from scripture, and an individual blessing upon each pet and animal, which makes us aware that “God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. So the Lord formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals.” (Genesis 1:24, 2:19,20a)
In Christ's Love,'
Fr. Bob
Congratulations to our new and expectant parents! In seeking Baptism for your child, you make a promise to journey with your child. You are the first teachers and your child of our faith.
Arrangements for the sacrament of Baptism should be made during pregnancy, the adoption period, or shortly after birth. Contact our administrative assistant, Holly Gilligan, at [email protected] or 973-635-0625 extension 154 to schedule your baby's baptism. Due to the many requests, baptism dates fill up fast. Please contact the Parish Office at least 3 months prior to the date you wish to have your baby baptized in order to reserve your preferred date. First time parents and those new to St. Patrick Parish are required to attend a Baptismal Preparation meeting on the sacrament with a staff member. This meeting provides a deeper understanding of the sacrament and the reponsibilities connected to bringing children into the Body of Christ.
We look forward to helping you and your family grow in your faith and relationship with God and share in this special occasion when your child is initiated through the Sacrament of Baptism into the Catholic faith community!
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - RCIA
RCIA is in place to serve those interested in becoming members of the Roman Catholic faith. This includes those who will receive the three Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. It also serves those who have been baptized in another Christian faith and those who have not completed their Sacraments of Initiation. The RCIA team consists of catechists, hospitality members and other members who walk with the candidates and catechumens through the process.
Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. Man and woman were created for each other.
By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church."
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Couples wishing to celebrate the sacrament of Matrimony should notify the Church one year in advance of the planned wedding date. They are expected to participate in Pre Cana. Sessions are held regularly.
When a family or friend dies, the funeral rites are celebrated for the deceased. Normally, a Catholic funeral has three parts. The vigil service, sometimes called the wake service, takes place at the funeral home. Then the funeral mass occurs at the church. Finally, the committal service occurs at the gravesite.
Arrangements for a funeral are usually made through a local funeral director, who contacts the parish to arrange dates and times for the Catholic funeral rites.
A member of St. Patrick Staff will meet with family members and/or friends to plan the funeral mass. Please contact the parish office for more information.