Annual Blessing of Pets

The annual Blessing of Pets in Commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi will take place on Sunday, October 3rd at the beginning of the 11am Holy Mass. The Mass will take place in the parish hall. Well behaved dogs, cats, fish, birds and all God’s creatures are invited with their owners. As we know, animals trusted St. Francis and he treated them with courtesy.

Near the end of his life St. Francis composed a song of praise and thanks to God for all his creations, called “Canticle to Brother Sun,” also known as the “Canticle of the Creatures.” From this song we know that St. Francis did not perceive himself isolated from other creatures. He simply assumed that all creatures – not only humans – form one family of creation. So we are encouraged to bless and praise God in His cats, dogs, birds and all other creatures.