The Blessing of the Pets, an annual ritual where owners come in with their pets—dogs, cats, birds, even fish—to be blessed by a parish priest is back. St. John the Evangelist Church at Ballard Estate, resumed the practice after a Covid-19 lockdown-induced hiatus of one year on Sunday. Pics/Bipin Kokate
Updated On: 2021-10-11 07:41 AM IST
People with their pets visit St John the Evangelist Church on Pets Blessing Day in Mumbai. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Fr Joe D’Souza, parish priest of the church and Port Chaplain stated that he expects dogs, cats, birds and fish to be brought in by their owners. 'I do get some unusual pets though,' he said. Pic/Bipin Kokate
The year before last, Fr. D’Souza had to bless an iguana—a type of lizard. 'I remember the iguana was quite small when it was brought here,' recalled the priest. Pic/Bipin Kokate
In 2018, he had to bless a vulture named Booboo. 'I recall telling the owner that the vulture’s beak had to be taped,' he said. Pic/Bipin Kokate
The priest has also been appointed Port Chaplain, he said by the Archbishop’s House. “As Port Chaplain, I will have to go inside with a special pass to bless the captain and crew of ships and liners docked at the port, when and if asked to do so," he explained. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Pet Blessings Day, organised at St John the Evangelist Church in Ballard Estate, is marked every year on the second Sunday of October. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Father Dsouza blesses two Labrador dogs at the St. John the Evangelist Church. Pic/Bipin Kokate
