The much-loved Blessing of the Animals service at St Matthew-in-the-City returns for 2023.
Timed to be near St Francis’ Day, this year it will be on Sunday 1 October at 1pm.
We are very pleased this year to feature the wonderful work of The Animal Sanctuary.
Come along with your animal suitably controlled or contained, enjoy hearing about the work of The Animal Sanctuary, and bring your animal forward for a blessing from our animal loving clergy.
About The Animal Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is an animal refuge run by Shawn Bishop and Michael Dixon in Matakana. They’ve been rescuing animals for over 20 years.
Their main areas of focus are to:
1. Rescue and rehabilitate abandoned, abused, and neglected animals, and then either provide a permanent home at the sanctuary or rehome them to a carefully checked safe loving home;
2. Raise orphaned baby native birds and rehabilitate injured adult New Zealand birds, with the goal to always release them back into the wild; and
3. Work in cooperation with farmers to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome laying hens from commercial intensive egg production farms.
On arrival the animals require intensive care and lots of TLC, but one of the most rewarding returns for all the hard work is watching a native bird soar away back to its natural life in the wild. Once the animals have overcome their fear they become gentle, trusting and caring.
The Animal Sanctuary is now home to about 100 animals: two-legged and four-legged, native and exotic, warm and cold-blooded – all getting the care that they deserve.
Media are welcome at the service.
ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY, 132 Hobson Street, www.stmatthews.nz
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Published: August 2023