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Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The blessed gift of companionship
Newburgh church celebrates St. Francis’ Day, love of animals
By ALLAN GAUL
[email protected]
Francis of Assisi was a holy man, who, according to
legend, once while praying in a ruined country church
heard the words, “Francis, rebuild my church which you
see falling down.”
Francis not only rebuilt the church with his own
hands, he took to begging in the streets to pay for the
building materials. His actions cost him his relationship
with his own father and he ended up giving everything
he had to the poor. That even included the clothes on his
back.
He totally embraced poverty of the gospel, “sell what
thou hast, give to the poor, and come and follow Me.”
This led him to not only rebuild a church, he rebuilt the
church.
Others followed him and the Franciscan Order was
the result. In the year 1228, Pope Gregory IX pronounced
Francis of Assisi a saint. Today there are both Roman
Catholic and Anglican Franciscans at work across the
world.
Oct. 4 is recognized in many churches as Feast of
St. Francis of Assisi, commemorating the life of Saint
Francis, who is the patron saint of animals as expressed
in his Canticle of Creatures. St. George’s Episcopal
Church in Newburgh this year offered a Sunday mid-day
service in which all those who wished a blessing for their
animals brought them to the church courtyard at 105
Grand St.
The Rev. Dustin Trowbridge and the Rev. Deacon
Vonnie Hubbard officiated in a short service on Sunday
that included a Collect for St. Francis’ Day, a reading
Father Dustin blesses Beth Gilmore and her pair of bunnies.
Note the bow in the bunny’s fur.
from The Canticle of the Sun and a prayer attributed to
St. Francis.
Each of the animals and their humans received the
blessings of Fr. Dustin, a sprinkling of holy water and a
certificate of the blessing as a keepsake.
Offerings, both in pet food and cash, were donated to
the St. George’s Food Pantry for the pets of Food Pantry
clients.
Donna Gaul brought her kitty, Missy, and a picture of her
late