Jhonny, an unassuming dog adopted by Father Luiz Paulo in Barretos, Brazil, has become a true star of the parish and the internet. He arrives at every Mass dressed in something resembling an altar server’s robe and moves among the faithful, collecting pats instead of donations. The story of the „cãoroinha” shows that sometimes an animal is the best way to bring people back to church.
The Altar Boy Dog of Barretos
At the Santa Ana e São Joaquim parish in Barretos, in the state of São Paulo, Masses have for some time featured an unusual „liturgical assistant”: Jhonny. The dog moves freely between the altar, the confessional and the pews, seeking contact with people and making the atmosphere of the services warmer and more relaxed.
Father Luiz Paulo Soares admits that Jhonny is sometimes late and occasionally leaves a little early, but he is present at practically every Mass, and the faithful have already grown used to seeing him. For many of them his presence is a „blessing,” as the dog goes from person to person, almost as if handing out his own „canine blessing”.
How the Dog Became a „cãoroinha”
Jhonny came to the priest like many other homeless dogs: he was emaciated and neglected when he first appeared near one of the chapels in town. The priest, who for years has carried dog food in his car for stray animals, fed him, and the dog simply jumped into the vehicle and never got out, symbolically choosing his new guardian.
Over time it became clear that Jhonny loves accompanying the priest in his pastoral work as well. As soon as the Mass bell rings, the dog stops his daily wanderings around the area and runs straight to the church, as if he had the most important point of the day written in his calendar.
An Altar Boy’s Outfit and a New Tradition
To highlight the dog’s special role, parishioners and the priest prepared a custom outfit resembling an altar server’s robe. It was then that the affectionate nickname „cãoroinha” was born, a blend of the Portuguese words „cão” (dog) and „coroinha” (altar boy).
The animal has become such an important part of the community that the faithful ask about him whenever he is unexpectedly absent from Mass. For children and people who attend church less often, the dog-altar boy is an extra motivation to show up for the Sunday liturgy.
Father Luiz Paulo and His Love for Animals
Jhonny is not the priest’s only four-legged charge. The clergyman also looks after about fifteen dogs that were previously abandoned on the street. He has a habit of carrying food in his car, stopping for homeless animals and looking for safe shelter for them, which has become part of his everyday mission.
This approach fits into a broader trend in the Brazilian Church, where people increasingly speak of human responsibility for creation and respect for animals. Stories of clergy who rescue dogs and cats regularly gain popularity on social media, building an image of a Church closer to ordinary people and their everyday concerns.
