Dozens of pets, including dogs and birds, gathered at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs for the 15th annual Blessing of the Animals. The event, held on St. Francis Day, featured a new memorial installation called the Rainbow Bridge where owners can honor deceased pets, WLOX reported.
Rainbow Bridge Memorial Adds Permanent Remembrance
The church’s Creation Care Team introduced the Rainbow Bridge this year to provide a dedicated space for residents to remember lost pets. Gail Bishop, a member of the team, stated that the memorial serves as a response to the heartbreak of losing a pet, noting that having a place for remembrance is a “lovely thing to do.”
To create the memorial, people can attach the old collars of their pets to the bridge. For animals that did not wear collars, such as birds or cats, the church provides ribbons and metal tags for names to be inscribed and attached.
Community Pets Receive Annual Blessings
The celebration saw a variety of animals receiving blessings, regardless of the poor weather conditions. Attendees included:
- Potato, a five-year-old guinea pig attending for the third year.
- Pearl, a three-year-old bird.
- Arthur, a four-month-old poodle receiving his first blessing.
Ocean Springs Art House Completion Timeline
Church officials expect the Rainbow Bridge to integrate further into the neighborhood as the adjacent Ocean Springs Art House opens. Members of the church indicated that the Art House project is scheduled for completion by the end of the month, which aligns with the timing of the Peter Anderson Festival.
Blessing of the Animals Common Questions
How do owners participate in the Rainbow Bridge memorial?
Owners can bring a pet’s old collar to tie to the bridge. If the pet did not wear a collar, the church provides metal tags and ribbons to ensure all animals can be remembered.
This year’s event marks the 15th time St. John’s Episcopal Church has hosted the annual animal blessing.
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