BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

JONESBORO--Approximately 75 people and their beloved family pets including dogs, cats, ferrets, iguanas, gerbils, hamsters, hermit crabs, goldfish and even stuffed animals assembled on the front lawn of St. Philip Benizi Church Oct. 7.

"The Blessing of Animals and Creation" ceremony was held on a day designed especially for them. In honor of the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the pets had come for their annual blessing and their masters for the simple prayer service.

Father John Koziol, OFM Conv., led the prayer service, assisted by Father Greg Hartmayer, OFM Conv., pastor, and Father Jose Eduardo Medeiros, OFM Conv. The ceremony included group songs led by a folk group and readings of St. Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun and Psalm 8.

During the reflection period Father Koziol spoke of the responsibility involved in caring for pets as well as the need to care for the environment. He encouraged participants to adopt animals from the Humane Society and asked them to work to maintain the beauty of the earth through recycling and other efforts.

Each pet, real or stuffed, was blessed with holy water by one of the Franciscan friars. When the friars approached each animal, its owner usually warned them of their individual pet's social skills or inadequacies in that regard. As the water was sprinkled on the head of each pet, some growled, warning the friars to keep their distance, while others lovingly licked the hands of the Franciscans.

During the blessing the friars also gave the pets some individual attention in the form of tummy and head scratches. They also instructed some of the younger participants in the proper way to handle their animals. For example, Father Hartmayer showed Zachary Maher, 3, how to hold his turtle, Roadhog, so it wouldn't snap at him.

The most exciting moment of the day was provided when a gerbil that had been allowed out of its cage for the blessing escaped. It was recovered promptly by its owner with the assistance of an alert cat who spotted the gerbil streaking through the grass.

Young participants delighted in seeing and touching pets they had never seen before. "This is better than going to the zoo," one child said.