Uniting Queenscliff is celebrating and acknowledging the importance that animals provide daily.
A Blessing of the Animals and All Wildlife gathering event will be held on the lawn outside of the church on the corner of Hesse and Stokes Street on Sunday, October 6, at 10am.
Uniting Queenscliff minister Reverend Greg Crowe said the event would focus on the “importance of our pets and animals” and was open to everyone regardless of religious beliefs.
“The wellbeing of our environment is dependent on the wellbeing of wildlife and our oceans…and our whole life is interconnected with all creatures,” he said.
“There’ll be a point during that morning gathering where we say a blessing for all wildlife, and then anyone who wants to, I’ll say a blessing for their cat, dog, horse, lizard, bird or whatever turns up.
“It’s about having an open and inclusive attitude to all people, creatures and nature and our belief in having a sustainable environment and holistic approach to our wellbeing as humans in life.”
Rev Crowe said the blessing event coincided with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Catholic patron saint of pets and animals, on October 4.
“They’re (pets) always there and we take them for granted sometimes, so it’s important to stop and be grateful for them,” he said.
“Being a pet lover myself and having a dog, they’re wonderful companions, and it’s nice to acknowledge how important our pets are to us as companions.
“Animals have quite an instinctive way of knowing how to be with humans, unless they’ve been mistreated, and we know that our own wellbeing is enhanced by our connection to animals.”
