Animal Chaplain at Your Service

Animal Chaplain at Your Service

Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by Jasmin in Oink, Moo, Woof

Many of our families are comprised of humans and non-humans. Mariann’s and my family is completed by our perfect pit bull, Rose — who keeps things in line for us. And since so many of us have had the sad experience of losing our companion animals — our family members — we know that although there is so much unconditional love that goes along with co-habitating with these little critters, there is also so much pain that comes with their loss.

If this resonates with you, you’ll probably love what animal chaplain (yup!) Donna Yuritic is doing. Yuritic runs Compassion for Creatures, a Ministry for Animals and their human families. Her services include prayer requests, funerals (formal or informal), and special children’s informal funerals (she also is the author of Animal Angels: Paws to Remember, which focuses on how to talk to children about the loss of a family member companion animal). In addition to her services, Yuritic’s website is full of information on coping, grief, and other helpful info for people affected by the loss of an animal. And if you’re not Christian, fear not! (There’s a sentence that could be taken a whole lot of different ways.) According to Yuritic, her services can be “Christian, Non- Christian, Traditional or Non -Traditional.”

It would be nice to see more people in the clergy make people’s relationships with animals part of the pastoral care that they provide as part of their ministry.  From the counseling and provision of services related to the death of animals, to helping people find their moral compass when it comes to their relationship with animals in general, this could, and should, be an important part of every ministry.

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3 Responses to “Animal Chaplain at Your Service”

  1. Lauren

    20. Jul, 2010

    My dharma teacher led a powa service (traditional buddhist practice after a death) for my cat after his death a year ago. I felt very grateful to have had a formal recognition from my spiritual community. It’s wonderful what this chaplain is doing.

  2. Sandi

    20. Jul, 2010

    What a wonderful service to offer! So many people without companion animals just don’t understand that they are a part of the family.

  3. Fran

    06. Aug, 2010

    Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, MA offers a monthly service for people and their canines. It’s part of the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry, through which members of the parish and its rector, the Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, seek to provide humans and their animals a comfortable and welcoming place to worship together. It’s also a place for humans to find joy and solace if they are faced with making difficult choices about their ailing pets. And, we offer pet loss and bereavement support. For all of us involved with the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry, it’s a wonderfully rewarding experience. And those who keep coming, every third Sunday of the month, at 5 p.m., for a half hour service that includes Holy Eucharist and homily, the experience of worshipping with their four-legged family members is a wonderful gift. Oh yes, all faiths and breeds are welcome!

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