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View all search resultsPaws and prayers: Bogor church hosts blessing for pets
The event marked the jubilee of Saint Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1181 to 1226 and is revered as the patron saint of animals and the environment for his teachings on the sacredness of all living creatures
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Pastor Marselinus Wisnu Wardana (right) of the Santo Andreas Parish Church blesses a turtle on April 18, 2026, with holy water during a ceremony at Bumi Maria Sareng Para Rasul Prayer Park in Bogor, West Java. (JP/Theresia Sufa)
T
he usually quiet grounds of Bumi Maria Sareng Para Rasul Prayer Park in Bogor, West Java, came alive on Saturday morning with the sounds of various animals.
From cats and dogs to turtles and deer, dozens of pets gathered at the park for an animal blessing ceremony. About 100 pets were brought by their owners to take part in the event.
Leading the Mass, Pastor Marselinus Wisnu Wardana from the Santo Andreas Parish Church stepped down from the altar to bless each animal individually with holy water as they were cradled by their owners.
The event marked the jubilee of Saint Francis of Assisi, who lived from 1181 to 1226 and is revered as the patron saint of animals and the environment for his teachings on the sacredness of all living creatures
One of the pet owners, Heni Suroyo, 58, said she was delighted to bring her 11-month-old German Shepherd, Elsa, to take part in the animal blessing ceremony.
Heni said Elsa has been part of her family for less than a year, having bought the dog after returning from the United States in August 2025.
“I hope the blessing will keep her healthy and protected. Elsa is part of our family. We all love her very much,” she told The Jakarta Post after the ceremony.
