In the city of Gravata, Brazil, lies the Parish of Sant’Ana, which on Sundays hosts not only people but also stray dogs. Father João Paulo Araújo Gomes is the head of the Parish of Sant’Ana, and while he loves his priestly duties, he also has a passion for helping stray dogs find their forever homes.

Father Gomes houses abandoned dogs in his rectory to help them stay off the streets and provide them with a reliable source of food and shelter. Then, when it is time for the church to carry out the tradition of mass, Father Gomes brings out all of the dogs inside the parish, putting them front and center so everyone attending mass that day can see whether or not they would like to adopt one of them. Brazil’s stray dog and cat population reached up to thirty million in 2022. So, having resources like the Parish of Sant’Ana helps slow down the ever-rising homeless animal population.

Father Gomes also brings the dogs to a veterinarian to make sure they have no critical health issues before being adopted. This helps boost the likelihood of a dog’s chance to be adopted by a loving family. A family seeing a dog that is comfortable around people has good health, and comes from a reliable source helps the decision process to adopt a dog, which becomes easier for any family that visits the parish.

With the help of Father Gomes and the families who attend the Parish of Sant’Ana, the community of Gravata can help fight against the abandonment and homelessness of dogs and other animals alike. The purpose of a parish is to house the sick, frightened, and lonely and to help those come closer together as a community, whether that be with dogs or human beings.

Hat tip to @mignonettetakespictures.