Five Maryknoll Secretaries with their cat and dog, May 1913
Pet Appreciation Week
(June 2nd – June 8th)
The first week of June is Pet Appreciation Week! Pets play an important role in many people’s lives. As of 2024, an estimated 86.9 million households in the United States have pets (Megna). Our many animal companions deserve to be appreciated for all the love and joy they bring into our lives.
Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, Maryknoll Sisters, and Maryknoll Lay Missioners are no exception in their love and respect for animals. The Archives’ photographs and records document Maryknollers and their animal companions since the early 1900’s. When not receiving gentle care and adoration, our missioners’ pets serve alongside them in varying roles as working animals.
Fr. Patrick Byrne’s dog, Teddy, poses in a traditional Korean Gat, Peng Yang, Korea, 1928. Teddy and Fr. Byrne were missioned together in Korea during the 1920’s.
Maryknoll pets have worked as Chief Mousers, Agriculturists, Security Experts, Missioners, and Transportation Specialists among other jobs. We invite you to learn more about their various careers and grand adventures below:
Maryknoll Creature Features
Fr. Patrick Byrne holding a white cat with black spots. Furuya, Japan, 1938.
Fr. Patrick Byrne is seen here with one of his many birds. Also known as the “Animal Priest” and the “Animal Whisperer”, Fr. Byrne rarely went anywhere without an animal companion by his side.
Maryknoll Secretaries pose for a group photo along with their fluffy Collie dog companion, July 4, 1918.
Fr. Mullen mounted on Fr. Jacque’s Mongolian pony in front of an arched entrance. Fushun, China, 1929.
Celebrity Gene Autry stands atop a horse while Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers look on. Two Maryknollers can be seen on horseback to the left.
A monkey inspects Fr. Patrick Byrne and his clothes, April 1935.
Lay Missioner Margo Cambier on horseback, Venezuela, 2007
Sister Patricia and two Chinese sisters groom a calf, Jiangmen, China, 1947
Interested in learning more about Maryknoll?
You can contact the Archives at:
Maryknoll Mission Archives
PO Box 305, Maryknoll, New York 10545
Phone: 914-941-7636
Office hours: 8:30 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday
Email: archives@maryknoll.org
Website: www.maryknollmissionarchives.org
References:
Cairns, M. (2023, April 24). Teddy the airedale terrier. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/teddy-the-airedale-terrier/
Giordano, R. (2024, April 2). Pet appreciation week 2024: When it is & how to celebrate. Dogster. https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/pet-appreciation-week
Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers. (n.d.). Mission diaries, 1912-1969. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.libraryhost.com/index.php?p=collections%2Fcontrolcard&id=1&q=diaries
Maryknoll Sisters. (n.d.). Mission diaries, 1912-1968. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.libraryhost.com/index.php?p=collections%2Ffindingaid&id=4&q=diaries&rootcontentid=234527#id234527
Megna, M., & Bailie, K. (Eds.). (2024, January 25). Pet Ownership Statistics 2024. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/
Sconning. (2023, June 7). Busy bees. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/busy-bees/
Silvestro, J. D. (2017, August 30). All creatures great and small. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/all-creatures-great-and-small/
Silvestro, J. D. (2022, August 24). Charley’s hero. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/charleys-hero/
Spicer, K. (2020, February 1). Groundhog Day at maryknoll. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/groundhog-day-at-maryknoll/
Spicer, K. (2021, August 25). Adventures at language school. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/adventures-at-language-school/
Spicer, K. (2021, December 15). The ballad of bill and Skeezix. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/the-ballad-of-bill-and-skeezix/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, May 10). Gene Autry. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Autry
Two Maryknoll Sisters on horseback, Houston, TX.
Fr. Kennelly poses with his three police dogs, Loting, China, 1936. Father is seated outside on a small stool holding the collars of two standing dogs that flank him. On the grass is a third dog relaxing.
