Lynnfield Pets Receive Blessings

LYNNFIELD, MA — The fall is not only marked by pumpkin spiced lattes but as a special time for catholic pet owners. In October, Catholics celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of animals. This year, the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative held an annual Blessing of the Animals.

On Saturday, October 5, dogs, cats, and their devoted humans gathered at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. There, a blessing was bestowed over the animals and they were sprinkled with holy water. Their human companions were given a prayer card and a little Saint Francis medal to put on their pet’s collar, as a continuous reminder that all creatures are brothers and sisters under God.

Deacon Antonio Lopez, a seminarian at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, presided over this year’s blessing with the assistance of Colin McNabb, a seminarian at St. John's Seminary in Brighton. Deacon Antonio fondly recalled, "As a child, I had a wonderful German Shepherd who would walk me to school every day. For the most part, I loved it, but I reached an age when it became a little embarrassing." While Colin recounted a beloved large cat he had before he entered the seminary who was so dog-like that he enjoyed playing fetch with a ball.