Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2018

73 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasant.Pet | www.MountPleasantBuilders.com featurepets humans and animals to be God’s creatures. He was known to pray often with flocks of birds or other animals along the roadsides, and even preached to a wolf who had been terrorizing a village, killing people and other animals, and who afterward lived peacefully in the village with the promise that the villagers would feed him regularly. Today, St. Francis is remembered for the miracles God performed through him for the poor, the sick and animals. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated each Oct. 4 by Catholics and people of varying religious backgrounds with a Blessing of the Animals. In Mount Pleasant, creatures great and small are brought to churches for the ceremonies, which impart God’s power of health, healing and life for the benefit of each animal. The Blessing of the Animals reaches beyond the doors of each church and inspires many non-members to join in the ritual – animal lovers, pet owners, rescues, business owners and families look forward to the opportunity to support our furred, feathered and scaly friends. Carol Linville, president and founder of Pet Helpers, participates in several Blessings of the Animals each year, both at a church and through shelter events. “Yes, I believe in St. Francis,” Linville smiled. “And St. Anthony – the patron saint of missing things – because I pray for so many animals to find their way home, and St. Jude, the patron saint of miracles, because these animals need miracles. I’m not even Catholic; I just love the saints. They are listening.” In January, eighth graders Matthew Mutter and Simms Hoyt, students at Christ Our King, arranged a special Blessing of the Animals for a service project at Pet Helpers. Before the ceremony, the two worked for hours knotting flannel for blankets and making homemade toys for the adoption bags they gave to Pet Helpers. They also made and distributed little cards to all the homerooms at school, asking each student from kindergarten through fifth grade to write their name on the card and say the prayer for the animals’ adoptions. They gave the basket – holding more than 600 prayer cards – to Pet Helpers as well. The boys were particularly drawn to Pet Helpers because it is a no-kill shelter, which aligns with the Church’s belief in the sanctity of life. In a small, short ceremony with a handful of students and families, Pet Helpers’ staff and a few members of the media, Christ Our King’s Deacon Bob Boackle read from the Order for the Blessing of Animals. He blessed the participants before walking through the shelter, sprinkling holy water with an aspergillum throughout the kennels and animal areas before stepping outside and making a final sign of the cross to conclude the ceremony. “I wanted to do something with animals and for them that would show how much I appreciate all that they do for us,” said Hoyt. “They make us better people. I hope this blessing helps all the animals find a home with love.” Few decisions made in life are as di cult as the decision to place a loved one with dementia in a care home. At Mount Pleasant Gardens Alzheimer’s Special Care Center we understand the challenges and emotions involved and we are here to help. Our exclusive Meaningful Moments program TM , a holistic approach to caring, is speci cally designed to help meet the needs of our residents living with dementia and the families who love them. Come understand why Mount Pleasant Gardens makes a di erence. NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS! Join Our Founders Club. The first 15 reservations receive $1500 OFF the 1st month's rent and more! WELCOME TO MOUNT PLEASANT GARDENS www.jeaseniorliving.com | 843-666-2126