Blessings Abound for Alumni’s Best Friends
It is commonly said that “dog spelled backwards is God,” and for very good reason.
Local dogs, birds, cats, and a few barnyard animals got a little closer to their creator at St. Ignatius Parish’s annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, Oct. 4.
The Mass is an annual tradition where people bring their pets to be blessed, honoring the bond between humans and animals and St. Francis’ belief in the sacred connection among all living beings. USF Alumni Engagement hosted the Mass’s reception on Gleeson Plaza and gave free bandanas and treats to each attendee’s furry (or feathered) friends.
It is a once-a-year opportunity for local alumni like Luis Castillo-Muñoz ’99 to come together and bond over a shared passion for animal companionship.
“These are my goats, America and Liberty,” said Castillo-Muñoz. “I named them that because they were born to their mom, Mischievous, on July 4 — fireworks popping and all that. But this was their first time at church!”
St. Ignatius church is wondrous in its own right, but when the pews are lined with bulldogs and goats crowd the aisles to honor the life of St. Francis — in the heart of the city named for him — it is truly an event to behold.
“I love the community aspect of USF,” said Tayana Powell ’29. “It’s really cool to see the whole neighborhood come together with their pets. My favorite was the parrot, Dr. Featherman.”
While occasionally mischievous or messy, pets are reminders of what it means to be a true friend, remain joyful, and love unconditionally. That is the spirit of St. Francis’ legacy, and 800 years later, USF alumni continue to celebrate it.
