Dear Folks,

Service dogs & medical emergencies!

We have a number of folks who have service dogs, sometimes they are veterans, sometimes they are folks with specific medical conditions! I am still amazed that a service dog can help a diabetic by alerting them to low blood sugar! I don ’t see cats doing that!! Dogs for the victory!

However, there is also a family in the parish with a severe, life-threatening reaction to dander from dog fur. They have had to administer an EpiPen in church because they didn’t realize there was a service dog on the other side of the church at the same Mass!

So, in a similar way that I have asked you not to bring PBJ sandwiches to Mass, I would like to work out a solution for our parish that can serve the needs of all parishioners. The most likely solution is to ask that two Masses on Sunday morning be “dog-free.” I have had conversations with two parishioners who have service dogs and they have been wonderfully understanding.

I am asking for anyone in the parish who brings service dog to Mass at St. Mary’s, could you please email me so that we can be on the same page with Masses that could be avoided? My email is frmosimann@stmaryfred.org. Thank you.

Once I am able to find out which Masses regularly have service dogs, I will formulate a plan with ushers on what might be communicated if a visitor arrives who is unaware of the medical issue behind the ‘policy.’

Let us pray for one another!

pax,

Father John Mosimann