The Church Cats

Meet our Church Cats, Jeoffry (all black) and Jake (black and white). These big boys (16 and 19 pounds, respectively) came to us when their former owner had to move away and couldn't keep them.

Jake and Jeoffry in the office
What are you doing up there?
The church cat population increased when Max came in from the cold - literally - after a snowstorm. Max now lives happily at the Rectory - see below.
portrait of Max
Max with box
Keeping the parish running ...
Jake says his prayers
Jake saying his prayers ...

... and Jeoffry monitoring the Annual Meeting
Exploring the Parish Gardens...
Jake on garden bench
Jeoffry in garden
Jeoffry and Jake in the garden looking around
Jeoffry and Jake in the garden looking the other direction
Jake disappearing into the flowers while Jeoffry looks on
Jake silly, Jeoffry attentive
Jeoffry behind a chair
A Poem for the Church Cats
Going to church: Jeoffry ...
Jeoffry outside the church doors
... and Jake
What cats do best: sleep! (Anywhere)
Jeoffry asleep in baby toy
Jake asleep in baby seat
Father Warren reminds the cats who keeps them fed...
Fr. Warren with the cats
Jake takes time to smell the flowers
Jake sniffing crocuses
"Supervising" preparations for Mass
supervising preparations for Mass
A favorite vantage point
cats atop closet in sacristy

What exactly does a Church Cat do? The 18th century poet Christopher Smart left us a lyrical, if eccentric, job description, which beautifully details the life of an honored feline (and explains where our Jeoffry got his name).

And why two Church Cats? Because no one cat could ever replace the incomparable Bradley!
Cats make reluctant subjects for portraiture.
Jake and Jeoffry with their 'Chief of Staff'
THE BOYS OF SUMMER

Come summer,
winter’s hearth huggers
find the parish garden,
join early comers,
lay back ears,
lash tails
at birds
and interlopers.

Morning sun haloes
Jeoffry’s black coat…
Jake’s black and white
accepts his washing ritual ~
and loving pats.
Morning coffee is a blessing
in the company
of cats.

June A. Knowles

For Jake and Jeoffry ~ our parish cats

September 4, 2005

Jake and Jeoffry under the influence of catnip
Other Advent Animals
Jake and Jeoffry may be the kings of the Hill, but they are not the only creatures associated with the Advent ...
Max and Lucy run the Rectory.
Max on table
lucy in the window
And then there are the wild creatures who live nearby...

A raccoon relaxing on the Parish House fire escape

"The sparrow hath found her an house" (Ps. 84:3) -
on the tympanum over the Mt Vernon Street doors
(see below - the nest is in the structure over Our Lord's head)
Quite possibly the most predator-unfriendly nesting site in Boston protects the nest from:
photo of red-tailed hawk perching on spire cross
This red-tailed hawk is frequently seen perching on the cross atop the spire