Mid Hudson Times Oct. 07 2015 | Page 3

3 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