Community Corner
Local Churches Offer Pet Blessings
Palos-area churches and organizations will mark the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi this week with pet blessing ceremonies.
Local churches are preparing to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, by blessing the pets in their community.
According to the American Catholic website, Francis, whose feast day is Oct. 4, loved the larks flying over the hilltop in his town. He and his early followers allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey at the small hotel where they were staying.
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.”
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This week, local churches are planning to bless pets in keeping with St. Francis’s recognition of people’s love and bond with God’s creatures.
Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Churches all around the area, will welcome animals with this special Blessing of the Pets:
“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”
By Lorraine Swanson
Pet Blessing Ceremonies:
- Sacred Heart Church
- St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11007 S. 76th Ave., Worth, 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.
- Pawsitively Heaven Pet Resort, 10051 Kitty Avenue, Chicago Ridge, 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4.
- St. Fabian’s Church, 83rd Street and Oketo, Bridgeview, noon, Saturday, Oct. 6. The blessing will take place on the front lawn of the church.
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