Continuing in the Episcopal tradition of honoring all of God's creatures, the Church of St. Andrew on Staten Island will consecrate a special cemetery for pets Friday, April 22.

The Cemetery for All God's Creatures will be consecrated at 11 a.m., followed by the interment of various pets.

The Cemetery is located on the grounds of the church, near the shrine of St. Francis. The Church of St. Andrew is located in the Richmondtown section of Staten Island at 40 Old Mill Rd.

"The Cemetery for All God's Creatures is an expression of our commitment to live into our mission statement which reminds us that we have been called 'to be stewards of all God's creation'," noted the Rev. Michael Delaney, rector of St. Andrew's. "Pets are an important part of our lives, and this cemetery is one way of honoring what they have meant to us and to our families."

Joining Delaney during the service will be New York's Bishop Suffragan Catherine Roskam and Bishop Vicar E. Don Taylor.

In addition to consecrating the land, prayers 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.
Fluffy, a cat owned by parishioner June Girard.
Truth, the dog owned by the late Bishop Walter Dennis of New York.

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

St. Andrew's has a long commitment to the community and to the people of Staten Island. For example, St. Andrew's is the host to a bereavement group for the public coordinated by Staten Island University Medical Center Hospice.