As if she were attending a theme party, with a halo on her head and glittery wings on her back, Molly the 6-year-old black Labrador mix looked heavenly as she waited in line to be blessed.
Along with prayers, songs and stories of St. Francis, the occasional bark and moo were also heard at the Parker United Methodist Church’s Blessing of the Animals service Sunday afternoon.
About 50 people gathered at the church’s Memorial Garden with their pets for the spiritual and social meeting, a celebration in honor of St. Francis of Assisi’s compassion for all creatures.
Molly’s owner, Shelley Hofmann, brought the dog dressed in costume in hopes of Molly taking on “angelic ways.”
“Well, she’s not exactly an angel,” Hofmann said, referring to her dog’s tendency to chew. “But she’s an angel-to-be.”
Hofmann, who is a longtime member of the church and a volunteer at the Dumb Friends League, praised the event. She stressed the importance of social events for pets.
“It’s a really wonderful service, something to remember,” she said, noting that she will probably bring Molly back next year, along with other pets, to be blessed.
“I take her everywhere,” Hofmann said of Molly. “We go to puppy club.”
Other animals in attendance included dogs, big and small; a few cats; a potbellied pig; a snake, and most notably, two miniature Hereford calves who were fenced off away from the service.
Lola, 9 months, and little brother MacDuff, 8 months, came to the second-annual event without their father, Tuffy, a miniature Hereford bull who was blessed at the event last year.
Marcia Stafford, a member of the church for 24 years, is the owner of the calves. She calls the event “amazing” and also said she believes in the social component of the congregation.
“Animals need blessings like people do,” Stafford said. “And they learn to socialize like children do: getting used to seeing people and other animals and the noises.”
The Rev. Teri Todd brought the service to the Parker church, which serves about 800 members, after hearing about a similar event at a Littleton church.
“It’s a wonderful way to come together, and it’s good for the community,” Todd said, “spiritually, in a different kind of way.”
Sally S. Ho: 303-954-1638 or sho@denverpost.com
Pet blessings
• Denver Dumb Friends League 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sheilagh R. Malo Pet Memorial Garden at 2080 S. Quebec St, Denver. To RSVP call 303-751-5772, ext. 7271.
• St. Louis Catholic School 2 p.m. Thursday at 3301 S. Sherman St. in Englewood. Call 303-762-8307 for more information.
