They say never work with animals or children, but that didn't put off one Golders Green priest when he was invited to bless parishioners' animals.

Father Keith Barltrop had no hesitation in saying bless you, pets' when he met tortoises Lucky and Jessie at a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral as part of a Christian spirituality fair on May 7.

The priest is director of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation, in West Heath Road, Golders Green, and said people could learn a thing or two from the modest tortoise.

Father Barltrop, 59, said: "We can bless animals, and animals can bless us, and in many ways they can help us. One of the great problems of life is feeling we have to rush around all the time, so perhaps tortoises can help us slow down. The blessing is for our benefit, as well as the animals'."

The tortoises were the stars of the show when members of the congregation were invited to take along their pets.

Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment, and Father Barltrop was joined by two Franciscan monks as he delivered the blessings.

Reflecting on his first experience of praying with tortoises, the minister said: "They can help us see the whole of God's creation, live our whole lives more fully, and lead us to God."

Amen to that.

Reprinted, with permission, by The Enfield Independent

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