Share Your Photos! Sewickley Area Churches Offer Pet Blessings

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 the community.

Pets will be blessed in keeping with St. Francis’s recognition of people’s love and bond with God’s creatures.

Pet Blessing Ceremonies:

• Saint James Catholic Parish will conduct a “Blessing of Pets” on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. in front of St. James Catholic Church, 200 Walnut Street in Sewickley. The Rev. Thomas J. Burke will give a special blessing in honor of the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals. Bring your dog, cat, bird, fish or any other special creature.
  For more information, call 412-741-6650 or visit www.saintjames-church.com.

• St. Brendan's Church, 2365 McAleer Road, Franklin Park, plans the annual "Blessing of Pets" at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 during the morning service. The Rev. Dr. William Pugliese will bless the pets. All pets will receive a special certificate of blessing. After the service will be an animal-themed coffee hour, complete with dog and cat treats, water bowls and a little something for the humans. All are welcome. Visit www.stbrendans.org/ for more information.

According to the American Catholic website, Francis, whose feast day is Oct. 4, 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.”

Share photos of your special pet on Patch. Tell us why your pet is such a blessing in your life.