Blessing: Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary & ICU

BLESSING of 25th ANNIVERSARY and INTENSIVE CARE UNIT of the
GOOD SAMARITAN DONKEY SANCTUARY Hunter Valley NSW 4 October 2015

God of Life,
you honoured donkeys with life giving labour and service to humanity.
Donkeys carried Mary and Jesus to Bethlehem for birth,
and then in escape from death to safety in Egypt.
Jesus chose a donkey to ride into Jerusalem
by which to demonstrate that he came in peace.

God of Life,
we thank you for your blessing on the Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary;
as we celebrate 25 years of devoted donkey care and rescue.

On this day we especially ask your blessing on the Intensive Care Unit.
Bless the donkeys who receive care here.
Bless the workers with skill, persistence and joy in healing.
Bless the donors who have generously provided this beautiful Intensive Care Unit.

Bless these pastures, hills and river
with seasonal weather, growth and safety
that donkeys will be provided for in abundance.
Bless these buildings, facilities and equipment
with regular maintenance and wise usage
that the donkeys receive loving care,
and the honour and respect due to them.

As Jesus blessed the love of the Good Samaritan;
Bless, we pray, the love of the Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary.

These blessings we ask in the name of Jesus Christ
who honoured donkeys
both through his teaching and by his actions. Amen.

*I wrote this Blessing at the request of the Founder of the Sanctuary, Jo-Anne Kokas, and took pleasure in praying it at this special celebration on St Francis Day 2015.

*I should add that a delightful touch was our former donkey, Petal, who was in the pen just behind me as I prayed. Petal nudged the gate with her muzzle throughout the Blessing seeking my attention! She lived in Tasmania on our property for some years before returning to the Sanctuary for health reasons. Life was always an adventure with our Petal! One of Petal’s many engagements in Tasmania involved the Easter March of witness and The Water Ceremony.

*For more information, see: Good Samaritan Donkey Sanctuary.


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