We are used to reading horrific stories about dogs, which are often denied entry even to places where they should always be allowed by law.
However, today I want to tell you a completely different story, one made of compassion and genuine love for others.
Every Sunday in Gravatá, a small city in Pernambuco state of Northeast Brazil, an unexpected guest appears at Mass – a rescued street dog.
Father João Paulo de Araujo Gomes, who has served at the local Paróquia de Sant’Ana since 2013, invites stray dogs inside his church as honored guests.
You got it right, in this quaint stone church, dogs lie by the altar or mingle with the congregation.
But what is the reason for what many would consider strange behavior? Well, it’s all part of the priest’s mission: to give homeless animals love, shelter, and a real chance at adoption.
Father João Paulo’s
Father João Paulo is a lifelong animal-lover. Soon after arriving in Gravatá in 2013, he encountered local volunteers working for a street‑dog rescue charity.
By 2016, he was fully dedicated to the cause and began personally taking dogs home from the streets, nursing sick pups back to health, and making them fixtures at his church.
Welcoming Dogs to Mass
Then, at a certain point, he had an idea. To use his space as a loudspeaker for these dogs’ calls for help.
Father João has turned Sunday service into an adoption event. The process is simple but powerful.
Volunteers or Father João spot strays and bring them into the church.
“Every time he finds a dog on his daily walk to the parish, Father João rescues it and carries it into the church,” a local report explains.
The dog is free to roam. It may nap in the aisle or sit by the altar as Father João celebrates Mass. Between readings, he often pats or pets the animal.
At the end of the liturgy, Father João introduces the dog to everyone (sometimes sharing its name or story). Any family interested in adopting the pup can then approach him. If someone wishes to give the dog a home, they take it home that same day.
If no immediate adopter is found, Father João or volunteers foster the dog temporarily.
He ensures it is safe and healthy, taking injured dogs to the vet for care, and keeping them off the streets until a home is found.
Volunteers also place bowls of food and water outside the church so other strays can eat safely.
As the priest says, “they will always be able to enter, sleep, eat, drink their water and find shelter and protection, for this house is of God and they are of God”.
Saving Lives
I must say that this story has affected me deeply. I am Italian, and obviously, there are many churches in our country.
However, I am sorry to see that sometimes dogs are not even allowed to enter with their owners, which I find strange for a place that should welcome everyone.
Also, because the numbers speak for themselves, and the results achieved by Father João have been remarkable.
Dozens of dogs have found new families through Father João’s ministry, and people are happy to see a dog at mass that can bring them joy and a smile on their face.
A Message of Love and Faith
Another important thing that Father João often reminds people is that caring for God’s creation, including animals, is a moral duty.
He believes compassion should extend to all living beings and that mercy and kindness aren’t just for humans.
As he wrote on Facebook, if even “the greatest sinner” is welcome in God’s house, how much more should these “four-legged angels” be welcomed.
The Stray Dog Crisis in Brazil
Father João’s story also highlights a national issue.
Many of you already probably know that Brazil is home to a huge dog population, roughly 50–55 million pet dogs nationwide.
And estimates suggest around 30 million of those dogs (and cats) are strays living without a home.
If you’ve been to Brazil, you probably noticed that in cities, many abandoned dogs roam the streets looking for food and shelter.
So in this context, you can understand how people like Father João play a critical role.
His church opened its doors because more help was needed: if one priest and a congregation can save tens of animals, imagine what could happen if others joined in.
I really hope that Father João Paulo’s ministry acts as an example of how small acts of love can ripple outward and how any one of us can be a defender for a vulnerable animal.