CONCORD, NH (RNS) – When animal lovers gathered here Saturday (Oct. 5) in a church garden with dogs and photos for the annual blessing of the animals, they were greeted with a certainty unlike anything in years past.
“I say: take your pet with you. Bring your dog and cat. I’m a Haitian and I’m not going to eat them,” said the Rev. Jean Beniste, a Haitian immigrant and rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, minutes before the crowd of about 60 people took their seats. ‘I will bless them. I will embrace them. I will hug you. I will form fellowship with you.”
It was the first of several laughable allusions speakers made in response to a September 10 debate comment from former President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, “eat the pets of the people who live there.” .”
Such rumors, which are spreading like wildfire on social media, have been debunked. But advocates remain concerned about the impact of hostile rhetoric directed against Haitians and other immigrants.
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Those gathered at St. Paul’s decided to turn one of Christianity’s lighter rituals — an annual blessing of animals — into an act of good-natured defiance.
The Blessing of the Animals is a ritual celebrated by several Christian denominations in early October in honor of Saint Francis, a widely beloved medieval saint known for cherishing the poor and the animal kingdom. Owners bring pets and sometimes livestock to receive a spiritual blessing recognizing their importance to God.
This year, however, the service in New Hampshire’s capital was also about portraying a controversial immigrant group worthy of trust and strength to offer blessings on behalf of God. This reframing attracted new participants who wanted to show solidarity.
“This year the blessing of animals takes on a new, even prophetic, meaning,” wrote the Rt. The Rev. Robert Hirschfeld, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, when he invited the entire diocese in Concord to participate. “Our gathering of blessings, rather than curses, can be seen as an act of resistance against a culture that encourages violence in thought, speech and action.”
During the event, Hirschfeld compared the church’s response to that of Jesus, who challenges Herod in Luke 13 and continues to bless the people.
“This is a way to turn the energy of the world upside down,” Hirschfeld said after the event. “Let’s turn this into a blessing, instead of continuing with the vitriol.”
To observers of New Hampshire politics, the event was noted as politically notable.
Andrew Smith, a pollster and professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire, said the event will keep Trump’s comment “in the public consciousness for at least another weekend … and if you explain it, you lose.”
“We may be dealing with a little bit of ecumenical bungling from the Episcopal Church against the Republicans and especially against the message coming out of Springfield, Ohio,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this is deliberately pushed to the rest of the US by the event organizers and sponsors in a way that really speaks to Haitian immigrants.”
Debra Ragen-Coffman of Concord said she had never attended a Blessing of the Animals before, but felt it was “especially important” to participate this year. She was inspired to bring Tula, her Coton dog, after a friend passed on a message about the “blessing as resistance.”
“Not only would I have come for a blessing of the animals, but I certainly wanted to be here to participate in a community of love and resistance to the hate being spread across our country,” Ragen-Coffman said.
Organizers sought to maximize visibility of what is normally a low-key affair. The event normally takes place indoors, but this year it moved outdoors, where downtown dog walkers could easily hop in or enjoy seeing all the creatures gathered to be blessed by a collared Haitian priest .
Concord Mayor Byron Champlin brought additional attention to the event by participating and exchanging thoughts on the New Testament idea of being united as one body.
Pets and their owners received some extra help while Beniste made the most of his role as a blesser. Praying, he laid hands on each dog and printed out photos of cats and electronic images of deceased pets that were displayed on cell phones. Later, he went among the crowds, giving treats to dogs and sprinkling owners with holy water.
“I enjoy doing this!” Beniste, who has been pastor at St. Paul since December, said with a big smile as he shook drops of holy water onto bowed heads under a bright, warm October sun.
As fun as the event was for Beniste and other participants, the priest also used it to remind people that Haitians are “having a really hard time” in Springfield, Haiti and elsewhere.
The invitation to the event included a call to contribute to the Haitian Community Assistance and Support Center in Springfield. Next year’s event in Concord will likely be even broader in scope, reach and significance.
“I want to make it bigger,” Beniste said of the annual blessing of the animals at St. Paul’s. “Next time I want to get in touch with all the animal shelters and the police station. Wherever we have animals, we can bring people together.”
