A Priest From Belo Horizonte Celebrates Mass With A Dog And Becomes International News

By Iolanda Fonseca

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The heartwarming scene of the priest’s reaction welcoming the animal — called Herman — filmed in Bairro Floresta, has gone viral.

A distinguished visitor made the footage of what was to be a regular Sunday Mass, in Bairro Floresta, Belo Horizonte, that went viral and caused the Nossa Senhora das Dores Parish to become international news.

Herman, a dog who invaded the celebration, made a mess and did not let go of Father José Geraldo Sobreira’s cassock, who responded to the animal’s affection.

The parish registered the moment on social networks when the dog lays at the feet of the priest to win his affection.

The video went viral and had more than 6.3 million views, 85,500 shares, and 76,000 thousand comments by Friday, June 21st.

“My husband and I went to the 9 AM Mass, as we always do, and suddenly a medium-sized dog came in and circulated among the people. Since he was very gentle, nobody was bothered,” says Maria Amélia de Oliveira Neves, 77.

The parishioner says that the animal was so comfortable that it seemed to feel at home.
“And, after all, this is true because he is also God’s creation. In the house of God, we are all his children,” she said. Maria Amélia de Oliveira Neves recounts that the dog seemed to have liked Father José Geraldo very much because he didn’t leave him, “as if they were old friends.”

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