The Sounds Of Hope To Echo Through Christchurch Cathedral

Creatures of all kinds invited to the SPCA Blessing of the Animals service

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The sounds of hope will echo around the vaulted ceilings of Christchurch Cathedral this coming Sunday (3rd October), when Canterbury SPCA holds its annual Blessing of the Animals service.

Along with human voices raised in praise and the sonorous magnificence of the Cathedral Brass, you can expect to hear a range of other noises, contributed by dogs, cats and possibly even cockatiels, chickens, goats, ponies, cows and members of more exotic species.

“The Blessing of the Animals service takes place this particular Sunday because it’s the day immediately preceding the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, who is renowned for his reverence for All life,” says the Dean of Christchurch, the Very Reverend Peter Beck.

“It’s always a great pleasure to welcome the animals to the Cathedral, to acknowledge the stalwart work the SPCA performs and to celebrate the role that animals play in our lives, as companions , as members of our families and more generally as a glorious part of Creation.

“Despite the earthquake and its aftershocks, Christchurch Cathedral is still standing strong, firm and undamaged, a mighty symbol of our battered but resolute community. The tower is open, the bells are ringing once more and it will be an additional blessing to see the animals troop in again, as in previous years,” he adds.

Sunday’s ceremonies are to commence out-of-doors in Cathedral Square at 2.30 pm, when the now traditional Paws on Parade takes place around the square. Animals taking part need to arrive there by 2.00 pm.

The service inside the Cathedral is scheduled to commence at 3.00 pm and will include an address by Bob Kerridge, National President of the Royal New Zealand SPCA and Executive Director of SPCA Auckland.

“It will be a great privilege to be part of an act of worship in this truly magnificent Cathedral and to be amongst the people of Canterbury whose plucky and resilient spirit has so impressed the rest of New Zealand over recent weeks.

“In times of stress and difficulty, we often find ourselves turning to the companionship of our animal friends. And there can hardly be a more heartening way of spending a Sunday afternoon than amongst animals and other people who love and appreciate them.

“I’m looking forward to hearing Christchurch Cathedral filled with the sounds of hope, both animal and human,” says Mr Kerridge, adding that the service will be an event for the entire family and that children might like to dress up as their favourite animals.

Celebratory badges for both pets and owners attending the ceremonies can be downloaded for printing onto card, from Canterbury SPCA’s website, www.spcacanterbury.org.nz
. The website also has downloads for placards, to which photographs can be attached, so that pets who can’t be brought to the service can nevertheless receive a blessing.

Animals are asked to bring at least one human with them to the service. Larger animals should have a human attached to them on a lead and smaller ones should be appropriately contained.

Owners are reminded that they’re expected to clean up after their pets and should bring along a ‘pooper scooper’.

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