Mrs. Mulvanerty's Update
August 18, 2024
October 18, 2026
Hello, SKS!
With a rosy and bright face filled with pride, excitement and pure joy, my son came running inside from across the yard. "Can we keep them, Mom?" he begged, as, with tenderness and care rarely displayed by this 7-year-old boy, he gently held up two frogs, one in each little meaty hand.
I didn't know a thing about frogs. Would they die immediately? Would my son get warts all over his hands? What did they eat? Where on earth would we put them? My brain was saying absolutely not, and I am not quite sure what possessed me besides being unable to squash such a joyful moment, but my heart said, yes.
The frogs lived in my son's room, believe it or not, for several YEARS. Though I can't remember their names, I do remember how much affection my son had for these two little creatures. He kept them in a little aquarium, constantly tried to make their space "fun" by adding new outdoor elements like leaves, twigs and stones, he (ok, well, WE) kept them fed (live crickets, in case you are wondering) and refreshed their water daily. He loved holding them, and, call me crazy, but the frogs seemed to like being held. They were calm and content, ribbiting happily with their pulsing throats.
Despite the fact that I never grew up with pets and never considered myself a pet person, the frogs were just the start of many other creatures we had in our house over the years, mostly because I held out so long to get a dog. If we can't have a dog, can we have.... a fish? A hamster? A lizard? Bearded Dragon? Rabbit? (In hindsight, I should have just gotten the dog sooner!)
Prior to having pets, I never understood the allure. The mess. The work. The fear (would they bite?)
Still, it is unmistakable the impact all of those creatures had on the Mulvanerty children's childhoods. The various pets we had over the years taught them not only about the species themselves and all the science that goes along -- but, more importantly, they taught our children how to love and care for another creature outside of themselves. They provided a chance to practice kindness and demonstrate love and affection; they served as a kind of training ground for the children's hearts.
Every October, churches around the world hold the Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis famously called animals our "humble brethren"—our brothers and sisters under God—and reminded us that our duty to them goes beyond simply avoiding harm. He taught that we have a higher calling to actively serve and care for creation whenever it needs us.
Looking back, that’s exactly what was happening in our living room with every tank cleaned, feeder cricket bought, and dog walked. Caring for pets isn't just a household chore or a childhood phase; it’s a quiet lesson in love. By learning to care for the vulnerable, smaller creatures in our care, children have the chance to practice the very mercy and tenderness God calls us to extend to one another.
St. Francis noted that how we treat animals reflects how we treat our fellow human beings. When we teach a child to handle a fragile frog gently or care for a dog faithful to the end, we are nurturing a heart capable of deep compassion and love.
So today, as we celebrate our own Blessing of the Animals, I say thank you, dear froggies, fish, and lizards, Princess the Hamster, iHop the bunny, and Eddie the dog—thank you for being our family's unexpected teachers, and for showing us how to practice God's love, one small act of care at a time.
Today is our Blessing of the Animals!
October 18 at 2PM
SKS School Yard
Hosted by Faithful Families
If you have a pet, join us in the SKS School Yard to have your pet blessed by Monsignor Brouwers. We kindly ask that all pets are contained or leashed!
G.B.Y.*,
Mrs. Mulvanerty
*God Bless You!
