People with their pets visit St John the Evangelist Church on Pets Blessing Day in Mumbai. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Fr Joe D’Souza, parish priest of the church and Port Chaplain stated that he expects dogs, cats, birds and fish to be brought in by their owners. 'I do get some unusual pets though,' he said. Pic/Bipin Kokate

The year before last, Fr. D’Souza had to bless an iguana—a type of lizard. 'I remember the iguana was quite small when it was brought here,' recalled the priest. Pic/Bipin Kokate

In 2018, he had to bless a vulture named Booboo. 'I recall telling the owner that the vulture’s beak had to be taped,' he said. Pic/Bipin Kokate

The priest has also been appointed Port Chaplain, he said by the Archbishop’s House. “As Port Chaplain, I will have to go inside with a special pass to bless the captain and crew of ships and liners docked at the port, when and if asked to do so," he explained. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Pet Blessings Day, organised at St John the Evangelist Church in Ballard Estate, is marked every year on the second Sunday of October. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Father Dsouza blesses two Labrador dogs at the St. John the Evangelist Church. Pic/Bipin Kokate