Written by Amanda Coers – The Greenleaf Cemetery Association will be hosting a “Blessing of the Animals,” drive-through fundraiser on April 15th from 1 to 3 p.m. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their ‘travel-worthy’ pets like dogs, cats, horses, ect. to the Old Cemetery Gate on Center Street. 

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A chapel will be set up for owners to drive through to receive a blessing from Union Presbyterian Pastor Doug House, owners can then exit the cemetery at HWY 377. Along with the blessing, participants will receive bottled water and a Saint Francis of Assisi prayer card. Donations will be accepted and are very much appreciated to help maintain the cemetery.

Trees Forever Nursery has donated metal artwork animals to help decorate the cemetery for the occasion, and Sterling Monument and Reed Memorial have donated to the bottle water fund.

“Normally animal blessings are done in October,” Greenleaf Cemetery Board President Steve Harriss explained, “We decided that we couldn’t wait until then, but we’ll be doing another one in October.” 

At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer during the Blessing of the Animals which usually goes like this:

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

As the prayer is offered, the pet is gently sprinkled with holy water. This custom is conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures.

The Blessing of the Animals is one of eight planned fundraisers for the cemetery this year. The cemetery association is hoping to raise $40,000 to help maintain the 

Burials are down nationwide with the rise in popularity for cremation services. As burial services are the main income source for most cemeteries, organizations have needed to think outside of the box in order to secure the finances needed to maintain burial sites. 

“If you are charged with maintaining a cemetery of this size and historical significance you really do have to have fundraisers or large endowments, in order to keep the cemetery moving forward,” Harris said. 

The Greenleaf Cemetery was established in 1868, according to browncountyhistory.org. Greenleaf Fisk donated five acres to the town for a burial place, and two and one half acres each for the Pecan Valley IOOF Lodge No. 236, October 26, 1883, and to the Brownwood Masonic Lodge No. 141 AF and AM, December 3, 1883, making a total of ten acres for burial purposes.

There has been four additions to the cemetery since then and now has over 18,000 burial sites, spread over 80 acres. Oringally the cemetery was named Round Mountain and later renamed in honor of Greenleaf.

The Greenleaf Cemetery Association was incorporated April 10, 1923. The Greenleaf Cemetery is a non-profit perpetual care cemetery. Its governing body consists of five board members, elected by members of the Greenleaf Cemetery Association.  

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