Container Top
Search

Events Calendar

EVENT SEARCH:

In This Section


Most Read Stories


Blogs:


First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight

Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs

The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30

Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win

Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner

Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated

Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft

Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9

Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet

Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day

Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33

All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention

Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions

Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate

Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll

Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?

Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.

Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend

HRLite House:
OFCCP Report

Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'

See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering

Vinnie was faithful until the end

Akron pastor mourns clever dog who co-wrote weekly messages

By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Thursday, Jul 02, 2009

If you've had the pleasure of reading any of the sermons Vinnie co-wrote with his human owner, the Rev. Joseph Kraker, pastor of Akron's St. Vincent Catholic Church since 1994, you know he was full of faith.

Perhaps that was always part of his makeup.

 

Or it could have been all of the time that the 101/2-year-old black Lab mix put in at the church and the school that led him to grow in that direction.

Parishioners don't know that — only that they miss him terribly.

 

Vinnie died Saturday afternoon.

Probably no one feels that loss more than Kraker.

Vinnie had had two major surgeries since Thanksgiving ''and just never fully recovered,'' Kraker said of his loyal sidekick.

''He lived at the house with me. He was always at the church and the [elementary] school.

''At school, the kids would walk right past me, but they would always grab and hug Vinnie. Among the children especially, Vinnie was their dog.''

Vinnie came to be part of the St. Vincent church family when he was just 6 weeks old.

''He was a rescue, thrown out of a car window near Wadsworth,'' Kraker reminisced.

''Home At Last, a pet rescue group, recovered him. We made contact through our school secretary, Mary Belany, and adopted him.

''I was unprepared and told her I didn't want a dog,'' Kraker would later say. His
first dog, Timmie, acquired while he was the pastor at St. Timothy Church in Garfield Heights, had died after a 17-year partnership.

Ironically, the two dogs looked very much alike.

But the relationship between Vinnie and Father Kraker grew, as did the dog's relationship with the church and its parishioners.

The idea to use Vinnie as part of the pastor's message each week started shortly after the hugely popular book Marley and Me was published by John Grogan in 2005, Kraker said.

Marley — the story of a lovable and at times irreverent yellow Lab — climbed the best-seller list, and several other books and a movie followed.

''So that's where I got the idea of using Vinnie as part of my messages,'' Kraker noted.

That led to his weekly column — Krumbs From the Kraker Barrel.

''He wrote the first one all by himself,'' Kraker said. ''It was under the title Vinnie Here: Fanciful Conversations Between a Pastor and His Dog.

''After that went over so well, we kept it up. It turned into a dialogue with he and I carrying on a conversation. There was always a point to it. Not sure everyone always got the point . . . Then we turned it into book form with an introduction to each [sermon] indicating what the message was with questions before and reflections at the end.''

The spiritually rich and hilarious Vinnie Here was published in 2008.

Consider this banter between the two in a chapter called Unleashed:

''Hey, Vinnie, you ready to take a walk?''

''Is the Pope Catholic, boss?''

As the conversation goes on, Vinnie questions why he always has to wear a leash. Kraker answers that it's basically for his own good because of the times, especially with trucks and cars, when he is hard-pressed to control himself.

Vinnie goes on to say: ''Sometimes it doesn't seem fair, boss. I never see you wearing a leash. Don't you ever need one?''

''Of course I do, Vinnie, we all need one.''

''I've never seen your leash, boss.''

''That's because it's an invisible leash, but it's still very real.''

''No kidding, boss, how does it work?''

''Well, Vinnie, my leash is written in my heart. It's all the rules and laws I am expected to keep. They keep me from doing dumb things to myself or others.''

''Wow, does everybody have one of these leashes?''

''They do, Vinnie, but sometimes they don't pay attention to it, or they think they can get along without it . . . ''

At the time of Vinnie's death, Kraker said he was ready to publish a sequel, covering another year, with reflections based on the Gospel — ''It's my summer project.''

Kraker said he hopes to have the new book out by Christmas.

The first book is available at the church and at Grismer's for $15.

As for what the next chapter will hold for Kraker, he says it's too soon to tell.

''Everybody is encouraging me to get another dog,'' he said. ''But it's just too soon for me. I've got to give myself some time.

''In some ways it's too soon. In another it's too late. I am 71, after all. A young dog is a lot of responsibility . . . ''

A lot of love too.

Rest in peace, dear Vinnie.

 

Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.

 

If you've had the pleasure of reading any of the sermons Vinnie co-wrote with his human owner, the Rev. Joseph Kraker, pastor of Akron's St. Vincent Catholic Church since 1994, you know he was full of faith.

Get the full article here.


Story tools

Email  Email   Print  Print   Save  Save   Reprint  Reprint   Popular  Most Popular   Reprint  Subscribe

Share this story

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

OldManGrump
Tallmadge, OH

Posted 05:31 AM, 07/02/2009

Great Story! All dog owners have similar stories to tell about their pets. It made me think of the good dog friends I've lost over the years.


noclue

Posted 06:56 AM, 07/02/2009

OLD MAN IS THAT REALLY YOU. a soft side, say it isn't so. I need a drink


STUCKINCRACKRON
AKRON, OH

Posted 07:16 AM, 07/02/2009

Its ok Grump. We all have a soft spot in our hearts for our pets. Our pets love us unconditionally, dont judge us and are always there to listen to our problems. Im sure that Vinnie has touched many lives and will be sorely missed.


Enuff Already
Funtown, OH

Posted 07:47 AM, 07/02/2009

OMG! You've touched me this morning with your sensitive side. LOL!!!


Marla B
Akron, OH

Posted 07:51 AM, 07/02/2009

I will miss seeing Father Kraker and Vinnie walking in the mornings. Their bond was so obvious - it always warmed my heart to see them. When Father Kraker is ready to consider another dog, he could adopt an adult rescue dog. There are lots of adult dogs needing homes and he wouldn't have the puppy behavior and training issues to deal with.

Thank you for sharing your sweet dog with us all, Father Kraker!


tony

Posted 02:30 PM, 07/02/2009

People could learn a lot from dogs. They are the first to meet us at the door when we get home, and love us no matter how we look. I'm sure most or all of these posts have come from dog lovers. Rest in peace, Vinnie. Fr. Kraker, you are in my prayers.


sheila
akron, oh

Posted 09:13 PM, 07/02/2009

My mother always enjoyed seeing Vinnie at Saturday mass. Vinnie knew from whom he could get treats. I'm sure the masses this weekend will be especially sad. Sorry Fr. Kraker, hope you are doing okay. Vinnie had a great life.


pauliechop
, OH

Posted 09:40 PM, 07/02/2009

Fr. Kraker used to walk both Timmie and Vinnie through Glendale Cemetery and always brightened my day when I saw them. I'm sorry for your loss Father Kraker. God bless you and I pray that you find the strength to move on and get another dog when you're ready.














Most Commented Stories