The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
Whether it's a pup jumping up and down to greet his "human" or a cat gently purring as he rubs against his owner's legs, pets bring companionship and comfort. And with all the bad news these days, God's creatures can remind us of the simplicity of life and unconditional love.
In this section, you'll read about priests and their pets, how taking care of animals is a pro-life issue and the emotions that come along with saying goodbye to a beloved pet.
Pet bereavement counselor Maryglenn Warnock said, “There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief is intensely personal. You may feel overwhelmed, sad, angry, despondent, numb, guilt-ridden, even relieved. It’s all normal.”
It was all the emotions Father Matthew Garrison, pastor of Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling and Sts. Sabina and Mary Church in Jenny Lind, had to face this summer and Father Paul Worm, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Benton, More... 
In Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” he pointed to St. Francis of Assisi’s example, in that “whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise.”
The pope explained it was not just an “intellectual appreciation,” but that in the world around him “each and every creature was a sister united to him by More...
As the legend goes, St. Francis of Assisi tamed the vicious wolf of Gubbio in the Italian province of Umbria. The wolf had been terrorizing villagers, but in the name of God, Francis commanded the wolf to stop its attacks. A pact was then formed with the wolf, who had turned as docile as a pet, that the villagers would care for the creature.
“I think about that a lot as I look to St. Francis. More...
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