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ST. FRANCIS MEDITATION AND PET MEMORIAL GARDEN

A first in the region: a safe, beautiful and comfortable space to honor a beloved animal companion was dedicated by Episcopal Bishop Gayle Harris on Sunday, October 6, 2019

Mourning the death of a beloved animal is often as intensely felt as mourning a human. The new All Saints North Shore St. Francis Meditation and Pet Memorial Garden offers a beautiful, comforting way to honor that experience.

The St. Francis Meditation and Pet Memorial Garden, at All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore was dedicated on Sunday, October 6, 2019, by The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts,

The beautiful space which is located in what used to be the courtyard, at the heart of the church -- provides a safe, comforting space for prayer, meditation, remembrance and celebration of our beloved

animal friends.

All pets -- regardless of their person's faith affiliation -- are welcome to be memorialized in the Garden with an engraved remembrance river stone or, in the case of cremains, to rest eternally, at the very heart of our church.

Access to the St. Francis Garden is provided throughout the week or can be arranged by appointment, by calling our Parish Office at 978-774-1150.

For many, their pets become full members of the family, and their loss -- all too soon -- requires an appropriate, loving response to help soothe what can often be

devastating grief.

The St. Francis Garden is designed to respond to the needs of those who seek healing for the loss of a much-loved animal, accompanied by support from the pet chaplain and the loving, bolstering, empathetic community of the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry.

If you are interested in arranging for a final resting place for your beloved animal by interring your pet's cremains in the St. Francis Garden -- in an engraved, permanently sealed, above-ground granite/resin stone cremation urn -- or if you prefer to memorialize your deceased animal companion with a river rock marker with your animal's name imprinted on it, please

visit our Website where you can download our brochure. You may also contact the Parish Office (978-774-1150)for more information or for custom requests.

ALSO OFFERING PET MEMORIAL SERVICES AND PET LOSS COUNSELING

Additionally, All Saints-- home of the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry-- offers loving, supportive pet memorial services through our priest or pet chaplain, grief support through our certified pet loss bereavement counselor, and the opportunity to find community and understanding through our compassionate, devoted members of the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry.

Funding for this new church initiative has been provided through a generous Congregational Development grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and additional support from the Perfect Paws Pet Ministry.

The St. Francis Meditation and Pet Memorial Garden is self-supporting, including maintenance and perpetual care made possible by the sale of stone urns and markers.

Payment for urns and markers must be made in full at the time of purchase.

For more information or for a viewing of our Garden please call the Parish Office at 978-774-1150 or email us.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

ST. FRANCIS MEDITATION AND PET MEMORIAL GARDEN

All Saints of the North Shore hosted its 4th Annual Interfaith Vigil against domestic violence last Thursday evening, October 24, 2019. “This vigil is a time for our community to unite and remember those who have lost their live as a result of abuse, celebrate those who have survived, and connect with those who work to end violence and raise public awareness about domestic violence in our communities,” said The Rev. Marya DeCarlen, rector

at All Saints.

Organizers of the event spent two months planning the vigil and involving community faith leaders, including The Rev. Pam Cochrane of Maple Street Church, and Ken Meltz, Pastoral Associate of St. Mary’s in Danvers.

Rabbi Rick Perlman of Temple Ner Tamid, Peabody, Louise McSweeney, HAWC Advocate and Sara Stanley, Executive Director of HAWC, gave moving witnesses from their personal lives about the theme of the vigil this year, “No Visible Bruises,” -- a strategy by an abuser when striking a victim.

Dog Bones therapy dogs were included in the vigil for any participants who needed emotional support or a healing moment.

The candlelight vigil included a display of 5 life-sized, purple silhouettes named “The Silent Souls,” representing 29 victims this year from Massachusetts, aged from two to 57. This display was made by Debra Lemieux, founder of “Be the Light Ministry” at All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore, and is inspired by the the Silent Witness National Initiative. “Year after year, people come from all over the North Shore to support this vigil because they seek a holy moment to honor the lives of survivors, and celebrate the lives of victims.” said Debra Lemieux.

For more information please contact bethelight.asns@gmail.com.