St. Andrew's Episcopal Church - Cemetery for All God's Creatures

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Continuing in the Episcopal tradition of honoring all of God's creatures, the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew on Staten Island will consecrate a special cemetery for pets on Earth Day, Friday, April 22. Named The Cemetery for All God's Creatures, all are invited to join the service at 11 a.m., which will include the interment of various pets.

The Cemetery is located at the church, 40 Old Mill Rd. in Richmondtown on Staten Island.

Joining the Rev. Michael Delaney, rector, will be Bishop Catherine Roskam and Bishop E. Don Taylor. Elected officials and government representatives, veterinarians, parishioners, neighbors and pet-lovers will also attend.

Prayers and readings will include those from We Thank You, God, for These, Blessings and Prayers for Family Pets by Episcopal Priest the Rev. Rayner W. Hesse, Jr, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in New Rochelle, and Anthony F. Chiffolo.

Among the ashes of pets to be interred during the service:

-- Gizmo, one of St. Andrew's own church 'mouser' cats.

-- Merlin, Gizmo's litter mate

-- Fluffy and Rusty, dogs owned by a parishioner.

-- Truth, the dog owned by the late Bishop Walter Dennis of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

There are 850 plots in the cemetery; each plot can hold the cremains of four pets.