This sweet priest brings stray dogs to mass so they can find loving forever homes

One of the things that religion - that is, any religion - teaches you, is compassion and kindness. Whether or not someone can return your favor or not, love is at the root of all religious prose. But what about to others, who aren't human? This sweet and kindhearted priest proves that love goes beyond the human. Father João Paulo Araujo Gomes, the head of the parish of Santana in the city of Gravatá in Brazil, takes stray dogs off the street and into his church. After finding a stray dog and taking them to a vet for a quick checkup, he brings them to his church services.

This isn't only because he wants to give them a safe, warm shelter for the afternoon. He brings the stray puppers to his church in order to help them find loving forever homes. He hopes that some of the families coming in for mass will fall in love with some of the furry fellas and decide to adopt them. In many instances, Father Gomes has been right. Because so many families visit the church, many have chosen to adopt stray dogs, expanding their families. Besides, who wouldn't attend church services if they knew adorable doggos would be involved? It's a win-win situation.

During mass on Sunday, the kind priest makes sure the stray dogs are up and center where everyone can take a good, hard look at them and fall in love with all their eccentricities and cute little personalities. You'll usually find a dog cuddling up to Father Gomes himself, or even sprawling themselves in the middle of the pews, getting all comfy. The dogs really do begin feeling at home in the Father's church. Taking to social media platform Facebook, Father Gomes stated, "They will always be able to enter, sleep, eat, drink their water and find shelter and protection, for this house is of God and they are of God." The priest is an active member of the community, working overtime to ensure stray dogs find homes, have access to medical care, and stay off the streets.

Thanks to his actions, the number of stray dogs in his community has decreased drastically. Not only have dozens of puppers found loving permanent families, but Father Gomes has also become a dog dad to a couple of strays himself. He explained in an interview, "I helped several dogs with serious health problems. Some of them I brought to the parish house and they were later adopted. Three of them stayed with me. Today, they are my children and sleep in my bed." If you're in Brazil and looking to add a new member to your family, you now know exactly where to go!