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Blessing of the Animals draws cats and dogs
St. George’s Chapel, All Saints’ Church host annual event
Molly and Joe Panzarella hold Penny still as the Rev. Shelley D. McDade gives her blessing. Penny is a 5-year-old Australian shepherd mix. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
October 6, 2022
It may have been raining cats and dogs the whole weekend, but that didn’t stop the furry friends from getting a fresh blessing Oct. 1 and 2.
The Episcopal Parish of All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel held its annual Blessing of the Animals in Harbeson and Rehoboth Beach, and despite the rainy, windy weather, the event drew a host of dogs and cats.
Over the years, the Rev. Shelley D. McDade said, she’s blessed a variety of animals; the strangest was a giant macaw. “I don’t do snakes,” she said.
At St. George’s Chapel Oct. 1, McDade blessed eight dogs and a cat. Each received a collar tag with the word “blessed” carved on it.
For more information about All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel, go to allsaintsandstgeorges.org.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade of the parish of St. George’s Chapel and All Saints’ Church gives a blessing to Teddy, a 10-year-old miniature poodle.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade blesses Bo.
Each animal was given a heart-shaped collar tag engraved with the word “blessed.”
Keeping Heike, a 3-year-old Bernese mountain dog, calm before the proceedings is Barbara Villwock.
Penny is all smiles before the blessing ceremony.
Caroline Short and Miller, a 3-year-old shepherd-husky-lab mix, are cool as a cucumber as they wait for the blessing ceremony to begin.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade welcomes the collection of dogs, cats and their owners to the animal blessing ceremony.
