A Blessing for All Creatures

On October 18, the Chatham Hall community gathered in St. Mary’s Courtyard for a special Blessing of the Animals service, celebrating the beloved animal companions who bring comfort, joy, connection, and meaning to our lives.

Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and a devoted lover of all creation, the service invited students and faculty to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the many ways animals enrich our lives. The afternoon made space for every expression of love and gratitude, from the horses who partner with our riders, to devoted pets waiting at home, cherished companions who have passed away, and the stuffies and plushies that offer comfort on difficult days. 

The service opened with a welcome from Chaplain Barksdale, who shared that Saint Francis is honored around the world during the month of October, and reminded us of the beautiful St. Francis window in St. Mary’s and the mural in Hensleigh. Ella Isacksen led us in the Prayer of St. Francis, and these familiar words guided us to consider our relationships with one another and the world around us.

Students also reflected on our interconnectedness, inspired by the Native American Lakota phrase mitakuye oyasin, meaning “we are all related.” This powerful acknowledgment of our connection to all of Creation provided a meaningful foundation for the gathering. As the community joined in the words, “We are all related,” they were reminded that our relationships extend beyond one another to the animals, plants, and natural world that surrounds us.

Horses hold a special place in the life of Chatham Hall. Following a busy weekend of riding, the horses were grazing in the fields, but their presence was felt throughout the service. Chaplain Barksdale reflected on the extraordinary care our riders and coaches demonstrate for one another and their horses, as well as the dedication horses bring to every ride.

A poem read by Stella Taruscio captured the remarkable bond between horse and rider, describing horses as companions who help us move beyond doubt, find confidence, and discover strengths we might not have known we possessed.

These relationships reflect something central to the Chatham Hall experience: the opportunity to grow through responsibility, trust, and connection. Our horses are not simply partners in the ring. They are teachers, companions, and an important part of our community.

Throughout the afternoon, students participated in community blessings led by Mallory Stephenson and Kennissa Bethell. They gave thanks for pets who could not be present, held up beloved stuffies and plushies, and remembered animals who had passed away.

The moment of remembrance offered space for students to hold their memories close, acknowledge the grief that accompanies loss, and celebrate the enduring love shared with an animal companion. The community also gave thanks for the pets who continue to fill their lives with friendship, comfort, and joy.

Chaplain Barksdale then offered individual blessings for live animal companions, stuffies, and plushies, honoring the unique meaning each holds in the lives of those who love them.

The service concluded with a litany of gratitude inspired by Psalm 148. Students named animals of all kinds, from dogs and cats to horses, birds, butterflies, and creatures of the sea, responding together each time with the words, “We give thanks!”

Virginia Butterfield closed the gathering with Wendell Berry’s poem The Peace of Wild Things, inviting the community to find rest and renewal in the natural world. As we departed, students and staff took the longer path to Yardley to honor our horses in the pastures.

As the afternoon came to a close, the Blessing of the Animals offered a beautiful reminder that care, compassion, and connection are not limited to our relationships with people. They are also found in the quiet companionship of a pet, the trust between a rider and her horse, the comfort of a favorite stuffed animal, and the peace we find in the world around us.

At Chatham Hall, these moments remind us to approach all of Creation with gratitude, to care for those entrusted to us, and to recognize the many ways our lives are made richer by the animals with whom we share them.