Faiths find common ground with pet blessing
Altoona Interfaith Alliance renews community connection
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A love for animals has a way of bringing a community together, no matter their differences.
This weekend, the newly restored Altoona Interfaith Alliance is hosting the area's first-ever interfaith Blessing of the Animals at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in Tuckahoe Park.
Rabbi Dr. Audrey Korotkin of Temple Beth Israel and Monsignor Michael Becker of St. John Evangelist Catholic Church planned the event and will be blessing the animals.
To represent both faiths, a liturgy will be given with songs and readings from traditional Jewish and Catholic services.
"The day we chose has a significance for both faiths," Korotkin said. "I think it's a wonderful expression of how we can work together and share activities to create a more powerful community."
Wanting to unite the community, Korotkin approached Becker with the idea of doing the blessing alongside each other. Together, the two chose Oct. 4 as the date because it symbolizes special traditions within each faith.
Each fall for the past 16 years, Korotkin has had a Blessing of the Animals because it is when the Jewish faithful begin the annual scriptural reading cycle of the Torah. As part of their religious tradition, Korotkin said this is the time where they read the story of Noah and the Ark which "had the responsibility to basically save every type of animal in the world."
From Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, the Catholic faith celebrates the Season of Creation. Becker said this is a time where Catholics really appreciate and pray for all of God's creations. Along with this, Oct. 4 is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, who is known in the Catholic faith for his love for creation and the love for animals, Becker said.
Alliance reinstated
The Altoona Interfaith Alliance was recently reinstated to form programs and events that unite the community. In the past, the Ecumenical Conference of Greater Altoona was a Christian organization that sought to unite other Christian organizations.
However, over the last several years, Becker said they have had activities that went beyond the Christian faith and invited all faiths. Now, the Altoona Interfaith Alliance organization is working to do just that as the animal blessing is the first of many events.
"It's just the beginning of what I hope becomes a very extensive interfaith alliance because there is so much that unites us," Becker said.
With the organization, Korotkin said she hopes to bring the community together to share a common ground, which is the love people have for their pets. No matter what spiritual belief people have, Korotkin said a community is about helping, supporting and being there for others in times of need.
While everyone has different beliefs and viewpoints, Becker said uniting for this event in particular is special, especially when the country is so divided.
"The advantage of having it in unison is a witness to the importance of the common humanity that we have. In this case, our humanity and loving respect for God's creation, especially pets," Becker said.
At the park, anyone from the community can bring their pet to receive a blessing. There will be refreshments for people and pets, including treats.
In the past, Korotkin said most people bring their dogs to be blessed, but there have been a few cats, tortoises and snakes. All pets attending the blessing must be leashed or in a pet carrier and have good behavior while interacting with other animals.
The Central Pennsylvania Humane Society will bring at least one adoptable dog to the park and people can make donations to the humane society to help raise money and care for the animals.
Korotkin and Becker encourage everyone in the community, religious or not, to attend the event and share what makes their pet special to them.
"Everybody loves their animals and this is a way to honor the animals but also honor the people who take care of them, the people who have responsibility for them and this is something we all have in common," Korotkin said.
Mirror Staff Writer Jayla Nartatez is at 814-946-7535