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Blessing of the Animals draws cats and dogs

St. George’s Chapel, All Saints’ Church host annual event
Molly and Joe Panzarella hold Penny still as the Rev. Shelley D. McDade gives her blessing. Penny is a 5-year-old Australian shepherd mix. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Nick Roth
October 6, 2022

It may have been raining cats and dogs the whole weekend, but that didn’t stop the furry friends from getting a fresh blessing Oct. 1 and 2. 

The Episcopal Parish of All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel held its annual Blessing of the Animals in Harbeson and Rehoboth Beach, and despite the rainy, windy weather, the event drew a host of dogs and cats. 

Over the years, the Rev. Shelley D. McDade said, she’s blessed a variety of animals; the strangest was a giant macaw. “I don’t do snakes,” she said. 

At St. George’s Chapel Oct. 1, McDade blessed eight dogs and a cat. Each received a collar tag with the word “blessed” carved on it. 

For more information about All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel, go to allsaintsandstgeorges.org.

The Rev. Shelley D. McDade of the parish of St. George’s Chapel and All Saints’ Church gives a blessing to Teddy, a 10-year-old miniature poodle.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade blesses Bo.
Each animal was given a heart-shaped collar tag engraved with the word “blessed.”
Keeping Heike, a 3-year-old Bernese mountain dog, calm before the proceedings is Barbara Villwock.
Penny is all smiles before the blessing ceremony.
Caroline Short and Miller, a 3-year-old shepherd-husky-lab mix, are cool as a cucumber as they wait for the blessing ceremony to begin.
The Rev. Shelley D. McDade welcomes the collection of dogs, cats and their owners to the animal blessing ceremony.

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Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. 

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