Blessing of the Pets at St Martin De Porres

By Mary Dennehy

MORE than 50 dogs, a guinea pig and a tortoise were blessed at a special Mass for animals in St Martin De Porres recently.

In honour of St Martin, whose feast day was celebrated on Sunday, November 3, a Blessing of Pets, including Irish therapy dogs, was held in the Aylesbury church.

Michael Bermingham with son Darragh and dog Ralph (Tom McGrath)

According to the parish team, St Martin was a 16th century Dr Dolittle, who treated animals as if they were his brothers and sisters.

The church was packed with creatures great and small, who were welcomed with their owners by parish priest Father Michael Hurley and visiting priest Fr Brian O’Sullivan Glasthule.