Virtual Blessing of the Animals Sunday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. on Zoom

Gather round your computers, laptops or cell phones this Sunday, October 18, from 5 to 5:30 p.m. for a virtual Blessing of the Animals and sweet service of love and appreciation for all of God’s creation. Bring all your household animal friends – have your kids bring their teddy bears, giraffes and other favorite stuffed animal friends too! To join our Perfect Paws Pet Ministry Zoom meeting, go to perfectpawspetministry.com for the meeting ID.

Our Blessing of the Animals is a whole family affair, celebrating St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, whose love for all creatures was legendary. Francis, whose feast day is celebrated in October, "loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey," according to Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, who is a Franciscan.

"Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God's living things. 'All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.'”

So, bring your dogs, cats, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs and fish – along with the kids’ favorite stuffed animals -- for a sweet, loving service of blessing officiated by the Rev. Marya DeCarlen. Guitar and vocals by Steve O’Connell.

Our animal friends (even the stuffed ones) are a blessing to us. It is so fitting that once a year we can offer them a blessing as well.