Last week on Oct. 4, the Office of Faith and Spiritual Life offered a blessing to campus animals. The gathering took place on Thomas Plaza and was welcome to all EMU students who wanted to bring their live animals, photos of animals, mementos, a memory symbol of a deceased animal, or even stuffed animals. 

The animals were blessed in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Christian Roman Catholic Church’s Franciscan Order. He is remembered for his devotion to animals and the environment, his generosity to the poor, and his ministry to diseased people. 

Having the animal blessing on Oct. 4 did have significance. In Christianity, this day is celebrated as the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. Many churches around the United States bring their animals to be blessed on St. Francis’ feast day to honor his love and care for animals. 

The short outdoor service was led by EMU Chaplain Brian Martin Burkholder and Pastor Georgia Metz, a Faith and Spiritual Life Affiliate. To start, each animal owner shared one thing that they value most about their animal. “I value how calming my pet’s presence is, he always makes me happy,” sophomore Milee White said. 

Junior Cassidy Walker later added, “I value the companionship overall. With a service dog, (Bailey), there is a level of companionship that is unlike any other. I have a built-in best friend, he makes me feel less alone on the hard days, he helps me live my life to the fullest extent, and there is nothing else like it. He is my best friend, he’s always there and looking out for me and my safety.”

The group then sang a familiar camp song called “All God’s Critters” to appreciate the significance of all the animals in the world. This was followed by a prayer for each individual animal led by Pastor Georgia Metz. 

EMU’s first animal blessing created a space for students to come together with love for their animals and each other. Martin Burkholder said, “I appreciated the love and value each person had for their animal and the sense of community that forms around this common love and shared experience.” 

As a student who has a pet on campus, White “appreciated how nice it was to have a community of people that also value their animals,” she said. “It’s really nice to be on such a lively campus where I know that me and my animal will be welcomed openly.”

Walker also expressed her gratitude for the gathering as “amazing.” She added, “it is great to hold that space and have that time together as pet parents to acknowledge how great God is for giving us these companions.”