A Pastor Who Made His Church a Shelter
In the Diocese of Caruaru in Pernambuco, Brazil, Father João Paulo Araujo Gomes has quietly turned his parish into a place of refuge — not just for people, but for dozens of abandoned dogs who once roamed the streets with nowhere to go.
For years, the priest has been rescuing stray dogs, bathing them, feeding them, getting them medical care, and making space for them in his rectory. Many of them sleep under the same roof as him.
“They are my children,” he shared in a previous interview, describing the animals as part of his spiritual life.
Turning Sunday Mass Into Adoption Day
Every Sunday, Father João Paulo brings one of the rescued dogs to Mass. They sit at the front pews, sometimes near the altar, sometimes quietly beside him — and the congregation gets to meet them, pet them, and, often, adopt them.
What started as a simple act of kindness has now helped dozens of stray dogs find permanent homes. The church has essentially become a weekly adoption fair, with worshippers learning about the dogs’ stories before deciding to bring one home.
He recalled the beginning of his mission:
“I didn’t rescue them — I was RESCUED by them.”
“Love Will Always Be Madness for Some Hearts”
As his work grew, criticism came too. Some questioned why he brought animals into a sacred space. Others insisted “loving animals too much” distracts from helping people.
Father João Paulo’s response was firm and tender at the same time:
“There is no love for animals that does not translate into love for others. Love will always be madness for hearts that only think about money, power and advantages. Blessed madness to love.”
His message has since been shared widely, inspiring animal lovers around the world.
A Support System for Strays
Beyond the weekly Mass introductions, the priest has set up food and water stations outside the church, available 24 hours a day. He partners with local universities for animal castration programmes and supports adoption groups whenever he can.
He even brings the most desperate cases into his rectory, where three of the earliest rescues still live today.
“Whoever wants me has to want me with my family,” he said. “They are not negotiable or disposable.”
Small Church, Big Mission
Between caring for the sick at a local hospital and working with community groups, the priest continues to bring dogs in need to his church, one Sunday at a time — giving each animal a chance to be seen, loved, and chosen.
In a community where abandoned dogs often number in the hundreds, his weekly act of compassion has become both a lifeline for the animals and a lesson for the congregation.
A lesson that, in his own words, is simple:
“Adopted animals don’t require work, they only provide love.”
Watch a video here:
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