By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Stan Lesniak couldn’t resist the temptation of telling a corny Noah’s Ark joke while taking part Saturday at the Blessing of the Animals at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City.
“Do you know what kind of lights Noah had on his boat? Lesniak asked an amused bystander.
“Floodlights,” he said, while delivering the punchline.
There was no Noah’s Ark-like procession of creatures during St. Joseph’s traditional Blessing of the Animals, but there were plenty of dogs and one seemingly brave hamster that were gently sprinkled with holy water by Father Perry Cherubini, the church pastor.
Lesniak, who has homes both in Sea Isle and Clearwater, Fla., brought his dog, Babe, a 3-year-old Shih Tzu and terrier mix, for the blessing.
“He likes it. He enjoys being with other animals,” Lesniak said of Babe.
For the most part, the approximately 30 dogs that waited in the parking lot at the St. Joseph’s Parish Center at 44th Street and Central Avenue were well-behaved, other than the occasional growl or loud bark. Apparently, the cats stayed home, though.
The church welcomed all animals to the blessing, “whether they are furry, feathered, scaly or hairy.”
“They have a place in our lives,” Father Cherubini said of the animals just before giving them his blessing.
The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The ceremony, which marks St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, included a reading from the Book of Genesis.
“May God, who created the animals of this earth as a help to us, continue to protect and sustain us with the grace his blessing brings, now and forever,” Father Cherubini said.
Pet owners were also given miniature medallions bearing a likeness of St. Francis to symbolically keep their animals safe from harm or sickness.
Tim McGrail, a Sea Isle resident and parishioner at St. Joseph’s, was accompanied by his three dogs, Scamp, 8, Samantha, 7, and 1-year-old Sadie. All of them are puggles, a crossbreed between a beagle and pug.
McGrail noted that he attends the Blessing of the Animals every year because his dogs enjoy socializing with the other pooches.
“It’s a nice event for the entire community,” he said.
Dogs dominated at the Blessing of the Animals, but grabbing a lot of attention was Hampy the hamster, who is also known as “your majesty” in her household.
Hampy arrived in a cage carried by her owner, Aubrey Freimanis, 9. Aubrey lovingly held Hampy while removing her from the cage for photos.
“She’s sweet and kind and doesn’t bite,” Aubrey said of the 2-year-old hamster.
Aubrey’s parents, Jyll and Wally Freimanis, live in Wayne, Pa., and have a summer home in Sea Isle. Jyll Freimanis said the family has taken part in a Blessing of the Animals ceremony in Pennsylvania, but this was their first time in Sea Isle.
Joining them Saturday was their dog, Toby, a 12-year-old retriever mix that the Freimanis family rescued.
It seems that Toby and Hampy have a special relationship. Aubrey occasionally will put Hampy on Toby’s head, her parents said.
“Hampy is the queen of the household. We call her, ‘Your majesty,’” Wally Freimanis said with a laugh.
Along with Toby and the other dogs, Hampy was also blessed with holy water by Father Cherubini.
