‘Blessing of the Animals’ service held in Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — Pet owners in north central West Virginia gathered in Bridgeport Wednesday night as Saint Barnabas Chapel hosted a Blessing of the Animals service in the side yard of its chapel alongside Christ Episcopal Church.

Those who attended were encouraged to bring their pets, critters and stuffed animals for a special blessing that served as a way for attendees to thank God for pets and the joy they bring to their caretakers.

“It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate God’s goodness and God’s love through the pets that we have and it’s an opportunity just to be out just practically one last time before it gets a little too chilly to have a nice service together outside in God’s creation. So, I’m excited to welcome people, to give thanks with them, and celebrate all of our animals and creation together,” Father Christopher Scott said.

Father Scott said that the blessing is an annual tradition held by churches of many denominations as a way of honoring Saint Francis of Assisi on the calendar. He also said that Saint Francis was known for his charity towards the poor, as well as his love of animals and wildlife.

“The main gift of having pets especially is the love and the compassion that they show all of us. And it’s a gift from God truly, the ways in which when we’re hurt or upset that they can comfort us, the ways in which they give us more than we could even give them,” Father Scott said.

If you would like to have your pet blessed, Father Scott invites anyone to stop by the Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Clarksburg or Saint Barnabas Chapel in Bridgeport where he said that they would be glad to bless anyone’s pet.

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