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Pet of the week: Stray dog adopted by church becomes beloved altar server

"We decided to make him a little altar server outfit," the priest said.

DECEMBER 12, 2025 5:18 PM ESTDEC 12, 2025, 5:18 PM EST

Sometimes, love and loyalty appear in the most unexpected forms, and in Barretos, Brazil, it came on four paws. Johnny, a skinny and tired stray dog, found a new home in the heart of a local church, quickly becoming a cherished member of the parish community.

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The story began at the Chapel of Santa Ana and San Joaquín, where Johnny appeared one day in search of food and shelter. Father Luiz Paulo Soares welcomed him in, offering food, water, and a safe corner to rest.

From that moment, Johnny decided the church was where he belonged. Over time, Johnny began following Father Luiz Paulo everywhere. During services, he quietly stayed by the pews, observing the congregation as if he understood the routine.

Seeing how integrated Johnny had become, the priest made him a tiny red-and-white robe, officially making him the parish’s “cãoroinha," a playful blend of the Portuguese words for “dog” (cão) and “altar server” (coroinha).

Today, Johnny strolls through the neighborhood like a true parish member, but he never misses his cue to join Father Luiz Paulo before Mass.

Videos of Johnny in his mini altar server outfit, calmly attending Mass and receiving gentle pets from the priest, quickly went viral. Social media users were charmed by his calm demeanor and devotion, dubbing him the “furry altar server" and praising the bond he shares with Father Luiz Paulo.

Beyond the cuteness, Johnny’s story serves as a heartwarming reminder of compassion in action. Father Luiz Paulo, who also cares for other street dogs, uses Johnny’s journey as a living testament to how kindness can change lives, both human and animal alike.

“At Mass, he sits at the altar as if he were an altar server. Very quiet and well-behaved. That is, when he’s not walking among the parishioners in the church asking for pets. We decided to make him a little altar server outfit, and that’s how he became our ‘cãoroinha,’” jokes Father Luiz.

Johnny is a guaranteed presence at all parish events and attends Masses, processions, weddings, baptisms, and even the confessional. According to the priest, ever since the dog arrived, he has become a local attraction, being “loved and cherished by the vast majority, from children to adults.”

Father Luiz Paulo, who also cares for other street dogs, uses Johnny’s journey as a living testament to how kindness can change lives, both human and animal alike.

Today, Johnny strolls through the neighborhood like a true parish member, but he never misses his cue to join Father Luiz Paulo before Mass. From a stray with nowhere to go to a beloved cãoroinha, Johnny has proven that sometimes, the most loyal hearts wear fur.

But while many viewers celebrated the priest’s decision, others criticized the idea of a dog attending Mass, arguing that it disrupted solemnity or broke traditional expectations.

Seeing how integrated Johnny had become, the priest made him a tiny red-and-white robe, officially making him the parish’s “cãoroinha."

Supporters quickly drowned out the negativity. Dozens of commenters praised both Johnny and Father Luiz Paulo, reminding others that animals are part of God’s creation and deserving of love and respect. “I’m in favor, animals are God’s creatures, and we must love and respect them,” one user wrote.

Others expressed their admiration for the priest, blessing him for opening his heart and his church to a soul in need. Some even joked that Johnny behaves better than many humans during Mass.

The most heartfelt messages came from those who saw the moment as a lesson. “Animals are a perfect creation of God,” one commenter insisted, “and everyone has the right to enter His house.”