The following parishes have announced pet blessings in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), whose feast day is Oct. 4.
Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, informally named Francesco, he was an Italian Catholic friar, deacon, and preacher. He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land. He is the patron saint of the environment and animals because he loved all creatures, and it is said he even preached to the birds.
Assumption BVM, Bethlehem – Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., parking lot, Deacon Don Elliott will be blessing animals from dogs to horses.
Assumption BVM and Queenship of Mary, Northampton – Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., at Assumption, on rectory lawn, corner of 22nd and Lincoln Avenue; after a brief prayer service the animals will be blessed; bring your dogs, cats, birds, and other pets to this celebration; please make sure that animals are leashed or caged for their safety; rain date Sunday, Oct. 5, 12:30 p.m.
Annunciation BVM (St. Mary), Catasauqua – Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., rectory lawn, corner of 22nd Street and Lincoln Avenue; rain date Sunday, Oct. 5, 12:30 p.m.
Assumption BVM, Slatington – Sunday, Oct. 5, noon, parking lot, all animals should be on a leash or in a crate, questions 610-767-2214.
Divine Mercy, Shenandoah – Sunday, Oct. 5, 11:15 a.m., St. Casimir Church (worship site for Divine Mercy) parking lot.
Holy Family, Nazareth – Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m., church lawn, animals should be leashed or crated; questions [email protected].
Holy Guardian Angels, Reading – Friday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 4; Friday for school families, meet in front of school at 9 a.m.; Saturday for parish families, meet by chapel at 9 a.m.; all animals are welcomed to be blessed; if we need to bless an animal in a vehicle, we will be happy to do so; all animals must be leashed, caged, or contained as applicable; questions 610-921-2729.
Holy Infancy, Bethlehem – Saturday, Oct. 4, after 8 a.m. Mass, blessing at 8:30 a.m., in back of church in small parking lot.
Immaculate Conception, Douglassville – Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:30 p.m., in front of church, please bring your pets leashed or caged for their safety.
Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally – Saturday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m., parish parking lot, Father Richard James will be conducting the blessing.
Most Blessed Trinity, Tremont – Saturday, Oct. 4, noon to 2 p.m., Mass will follow at 4 p.m.; hot dogs, soda, and fellowship to be enjoyed after the blessing; dogs must be leashed; we love all our pets, come have them blessed and celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi; let us know if you plan to attend at [email protected].
Notre Dame of Bethlehem – Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:15 p.m., at Mary’s Grotto; a fair weather event, if it rains, it will be canceled.
Queenship of Mary, Northampton and Assumption BVM, Northampton – Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., at Assumption, on rectory lawn, corner of 22nd and Lincoln Avenue; after a brief prayer service the animals will be blessed; bring your dogs, cats, birds, and other pets to this celebration; please make sure that animals are leashed or caged for their safety; rain date Sunday, Oct. 5, 12:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart, Palmerton – Saturday, Oct. 4, noon, church parking lot, Father Michael Mullins.
Sacred Heart, West Reading – Saturday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., outside, gathering area in front of church.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath – Friday, Oct. 3, noon, outside, church parking lot, rain or shine.
SS. Simon and Jude, Bethlehem – Saturday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m., bring your favorite furry family members for a special blessing, refreshments will be served, RSVP (not required) to [email protected] or 610-866-5582 ext. 0.
St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven – Sunday, Oct. 5, noon, in front of parish center; for the peacefulness of all, be sure your beloved pet is leashed or caged; in event of inclement weather, please remain in car and drive around church circle, and Monsignor Edward Zemanik will bless your pet in the car, questions 570-385-1031 or [email protected].
St. Anne, Bethlehem – Friday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m., parking lot, please have your pets on a leash or caged for the safety of all present.
St. Catharine of Siena, Reading – Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., pavilion, 4975 Boyertown Pike.
St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland and St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville – Sunday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., Frackville grove behind St. Joseph the Worker, Father Guency Isaac, questions 570-874-0610 ext. 4.
St. Columbkill, Boyertown – Sunday, Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m., church parking lot, Deacon Jim Kochu will give the blessing, questions 610-367-2371.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pen Argyl – Sunday, Oct. 5, noon, in front of church, please make sure animals are leashed or caged for their safety.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall – Friday, Oct. 3, 7:45 a.m., big parking lot, Father Joseph Kweder will bless your pets, please use entrance nearest the funeral home and park in the back rows.
St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown – Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m., church parking, we ask that all animals be under the control of their owners by leash or in a crate or carrier, rain or shine, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something special for those creatures of God that bring us such joy.
St. John the Baptist, Whitehall and St. Peter, Coplay – Sunday, Oct. 5, noon, church grounds behind the convent of St. Peter, Deacon Mike Kudla, please make sure your animals are on a leash, questions 610-262-2417.
St. John Fisher, Catasauqua – Sunday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., on the green between the church and the rectory, all animals and even their owners are welcome.
St. Joseph, Coopersburg – Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m., under the pavilion, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something special for those creatures of God that bring us such joy, all pets must be leashed and/or crated and under the control of an adult owner, www.stjoescoopersburg.org.
St. Joseph, Summit Hill – Saturday, Oct. 4, noon, church parking lot, all pets are welcome to be blessed, all pets must remain in the custody of their owners; if we need to bless an animal in the car, we will be happy to do so.
St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville and St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland – Sunday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., Frackville grove behind St. Joseph the Worker, Father Guency Isaac, questions 570-874-0610 ext. 4.
St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield – Sunday, Oct. 5, 12:30 p.m., by the three-car garage; in case of rain we will meet under the canopy; pets should be on a leash or in a carrier.
St. Nicholas, Walnutport – Saturday, Oct. 4, noon, parish parking lot, Father Abraham Ha will be doing the blessings, questions 610-760-3107.
St. Patrick, Pottsville – Sunday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m., St. Patrick “Barking” Lot, Mahantongo Street; join Father Rich Clement with your dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, horses, etc.
St. Peter, Coplay and St. John the Baptist, Whitehall – Sunday, Oct. 5, noon, church grounds behind the convent of St. Peter, Deacon Mike Kudla, please make sure your animals are on a leash, questions 610-262-2417.
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown – Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., by the outdoor St. Theresa Shrine, pets will be blessed by Father John Hutta, please keep your pet in a cage or on a leash.
St. Ursula, Fountain Hill – Saturday, Oct. 4, after the 4 p.m. Mass, rear parking lot 1301 Sioux St., please have your pet leashed, questions 610-867-5122.
Image: Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds, Antonio Carnicero, 1788-89.
