The Blessing Of The Animals

St. Francis of Assisi and the Wolf

As we enter the autumn season, and October approaches quickly, with the changing color of the leaves and the arrival of a slight chill in the air, my pack – Suede, Ellwood & Jake- are, as always, part of this idealistic vision of The Fall.  Suede tentatively shuffles through the fallen leaves while Ellwood & Jake bound around, bouncing through nature’s carpet of color, probably practicing for the winter snows to come.  With the approach of October, however, also come thoughts of my pack’s place in my spiritual life – especially given that I believe they chose me.  October 4^th is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of all creatures big and small.

During the weekend of October 4^th and throughout the rest of the month, many churches, regardless of denomination recognize the importance of animals in our lives by offering a “Blessing of the Animals”.    I remember the first time I ever took any of my pets to a “Blessing of The Animals” event.  Max was still in my life and we had just found a little Yorkie named Trigger, whose family we had been trying to locate.  We took them both to the blessing, and boy did Trigger need it…he was pretty mean.  When we got there, there was every type of animal from common dogs & cats to the more exotic snakes, insects and even a pigeon that a little boy had nurtured back to health and traveled with him on his shoulder. 

I will be attending the ceremony at  St. Francis Xavier in The Bronx to get the pack blessed.  If you are a person of faith – any faith – you may want to check out any animal blessing events in your neighborhood…and while you are having your companion pets blessed, please remember all of the abused, neglected and abandoned animals who don’t have anyone to care for them or about them the way your animals do.  Blessings travel wide and far!

St. Anne & St Joachim Feast Day

July 27th is the Feast Day of St. Anne and St. Joachim. Remember them in your prayers.
They were the earthly grandparents of Jesus.

Bill Gallo – Daily News Cartoonist and Columnist dies at 88

Bill Gallo was a man for all boroughs. More than 500 attendees at his funeral mass on May 13, 2011 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan proved this. He died on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. There were famous faces, youthful faces, old familiar faces of friends, colleagues – past and present - and just ordinary, everyday readers, who came to pay their personal respects to this truly, multi-talented, caring yet humble man who had captured their hearts through his special brand of journalism.

Delores, his beloved wife, accompanied by their two sons – Greg and Bill Jr. - was visibly shaken as they followed the flag draped casket up the aisle.  Marine Corps reserve members were reminders of Bill’s service in World War II Pacific. Later, Greg would share his fondest memories of frequently playing ball with his father, from childhood until pneumonia, which eventually claimed Bill’s life, hampered his breathing. Bill’s old glove sat on the podium, as Greg recalled these happy times.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly likened his friend’s tenacity to the sport of boxing which was one of Bill’s passions. Beginning with the loss of his father to pneumonia when Bill was only eleven, this heroic man never stayed down; he always got up again to face life’s challenges.

Pete Hamill, a famous journalist himself, paid the ultimate compliment to this great, yet humble and kind man’s life. Bill, he reminded us, was one of the few remaining people who had known Col Patterson, founder of the Daily News. Bill still ascribed to the old standards of journalism – which made “decency” a crucial ingredient of great journalism.

Basement Bertha, Yuchie and myriad other members of Bill Gallo’s cartoon family showed Bill’s whimsical side, balanced by his insightful reflection of every emotion depicted, in the stories which he told, and in his ability to pinpoint headline makers, without betraying confidentiality.

After spending more than 70 of his 88 years at The News, holding up a mirror in his cartoons to the famous such as Muhammed Ali and other famous sports figures, Bill Gallo will certainly be missed.

As one of the sports luminaries present summed it up, “We lost a part of New York.”

Black History Month - Celebrating God’s Goodness & Mercy

New York, NY – The first Sunday of February was designated, as the National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family by Fr. James E. Goode, OFM, Ph.D. - one of the dynamic leaders in The Office of Black Ministry. On February 6, The Archdiocese of New York celebrated Black History Month with a mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in honor of this designation with the theme of, “Celebrating God’s Goodness & Mercy.” The devotion started with an energetic congregation singing The Star Spangled Banner and The Black National Anthem. Priests and Deacons, some in ornate regalia and some in simple pastoral dress, preceded the local parish and international representatives to the altar. High rectangular banners with religious symbols hovered over the marchers. Senior citizens from Ethiopia kept a watchful eye on a group of restless, wide-eyed youngsters in pale blue or colorful ofo isi (Nigerian), duku (Ghanian) mou sor (Senagalese) or other –named, head wraps. The Principal Celebrant and Homilist of the Mass, The Most Reverent Charles G. Palmer-Buckle from Ghana, exuded dignity and piousness as he slowly marched in cadence with the accompaniment, under a giant umbrella with religious symbols, held aloft by some sacristans. In his towering white mitre, regal robes, and white beard, he was the focus of all eyes as he approached the altar. He later revealed his incredible sense of humor in his powerful homily Br. Tyrone A. Davis, C.F.C Executive Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Black Ministry, and organizer of the event, offered the closing messages of acknowledgement and Thanks, and reminded all present that the Mass also celebrated, “the women of our community and the Parish Community of St Joseph of the Holy Family in Harlem, celebrating their 150th Anniversary.”