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Blessing given for pets on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi

Photos by Heather Cathcart-Norris Students and parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic School assembled in the parking lot on Friday, October 4, to celebrate the blessing of pets.
Father Rick Tomasone addresses the large crowd of humans and pets gathered for the pet blessing. Father Tomasone made his way through the crowd making sure to bless every pet.

The parking lot of St. Joseph Catholic School was filled with students, parents, parishioners, and pets gathered to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi last week.

The Catholic Church annually honors St. Francis with a feast day. St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the namesake for the Franciscan monastic tradition which is known for charity, selflessness, kindness, humility, self-discipline, and a love of all creation.

Father Rick Tomasone led the assembled crowd through a brief prayer and a reading from Genesis before blessing the crowd of pets with a sprinkle of holy water.

“May God, who is wonderful in all his works, guide us, show us his love and reward us this day with a blessing of his pets and animals,” Tomasone prayed.

Students who were unable to have their pets at the blessing brought drawings they created representing them that were blessed by Tomasone.

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