Priests bestow blessings upon cats and dogs

Tad and Kim Johnston brought their two cats to St. James Episcopal Church on Sunday afternoon to get something Ruby, 12, and Opal, 4, definitely needed — a blessing from their parish priest.

"They need it," Tad Johnston of Old Town said. "Opal’s been staying out late at night and Ruby has congenital heart problems."



The Rev. Susan Lederhouse blessed three cats and four dogs in an informal service that has become a permanent part of many churches’ yearly calendars.

Tad Johnston didn’t have his cat blessed to guarantee that he would see her in the Great Beyond. After receiving her blessing last year, he said, Ruby, despite her health problems, made it through another year. He just hopes the blessing is as effective on Opal.