Chehalis resident Steve Kay holds "Purrfect" the Maine Coon cat Sunday morning at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis as the Rev. June Johnson blesses her. In back is Kay's friend Bonnie Ione. Kay said Purrfect has epilepsy, and "the church has been praying for her, so she came today to thank everyone."
The Rev. June Johnson, left, blesses "Clover" — a cross between a dachshund and a Chihuahua — Sunday at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis as the dog's owner Kristie Higgerson from Centralia laughs with appreciation.
The Rev. June Johnson, left, blesses Havanese dog "Cisco" Sunday morning at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis as Cisco's owner, Toledo resident Bobbi Ross, looks on. Ross is a member of the St. Timothy choir.
Chehalis resident Tricia Murphy, right, brought her golden retriever "Jenny" to be blessed Sunday morning at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis. At left is the Rev. June Johnson of St. Timothy's. Chehalis residents Monica Stanton, 5, in purple, and her sister Ruby Stanton, 9, take turns petting Jenny.
A handful of people people gathered at the St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Chehalis on Sunday morning to have their pets blessed as part of a celebration of the Feast of St. Francis.
The “blessing of the animals” was held at 8:45 a.m. and again at 11 a.m.
Pet owners brought their four-legged family members. Rev. June Johnson said a prayer and blessed them, a practice that she’s conducted for the past nine years in Olympia.
“It’s a very special service that I’ve really come to love,” she said. “It seems to bring much blessing to the owners.”
She’s blessed animals large and small, and Sunday was no exception, with dogs ranging from golden retrievers to havanese.
Johnson is an animal lover herself, and enjoys blessing the pets who bring joy to her constituents.
“I think that we need to know how important it is to care for animals as one of God’s creatures,” she said.
One pet owner, Dee Dee Murry, brought her black-haired havanese named Sophie down to be blessed. Sophie has stomach problems and allergies, and Murry said Sunday was a good day for her.
“We’re looking for a little extra help,” she said.
The Episcopal Church annually celebrates the Feast of St. Francis, who is remembered for giving up his worldly possessions, taking a vow of poverty and founding an order of friars.
