The Yonkers Museum of Art, YoMA, held its Blessing Of The Animals event earlier this month at Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale. There, community members gathered to have their beloved furry friends blessed by ordained priest Danny Rokit.
The Blessing Of The Animals provided food, music, pet toys, and prayers for the community and their pets. It’s traditionally known as a Catholic event, created as a tribute to Saint Frances — who had a special connection to animals. However, organizer Buddy YoMA says those of all religions were welcome to join.
“It’s just a blessing,” he said. “I don’t think it has a religion and I think anyone can, if their intent is sincere, offer a blessing to someone else.”
![The Blessing Of The Animals event provided pet owners with free professional portraits taken by photographer Aryana Alexa. “It's been great. I love animals,” she said. “I have two pets myself. So I think it's really awesome to kind of bring everybody together and celebrate our four legged friends.”](https://www.bxtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/231202_BlessingOfTheAnimals7-700x467.jpg)
![Photographer Aryana Alexa said she hopes the event becomes a yearly tradition for the community.](https://www.bxtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/231202_BlessingOfTheAnimals9-700x467.jpg)
YoMA said he was inspired by the St. John the Divine Cathedral’s animals blessing event. Upon attending, he was in awe of the community brought in by the event and hoped to do the same for his neighborhood.
“It was just very communal, peaceful, accessible, because there was no cost (at the) event,” he said. “And so immediately I thought that I would like to do something like that.”
![YoMA’s first Blessing Of The Animals event brought young and old pets from the neighborhood, some being as old as 16 years. Partners Matthew Pinero and Grace Espin brought their three beloved pets to the event in hopes of having them be prayed for. Pinero said “it was a good time for the dogs to get out and explore and interact.”](https://www.bxtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/231202_BlessingOfTheAnimals3-700x467.jpg)
Among the many animals that joined in YoMA’s first Blessing Of The Animals event came Matthew Pinero and Grace Espin with their three dogs, two of them in a dog stroller. The partners felt they wanted their pets to be blessed to ensure their happiness for next year.
“I feel events like this definitely bring people together and it does build friendships,” said Pinero.
The first-time event was considered a success for the organizers, who hope to be able to have the same event next year.
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