Blessing of the animals

Anthony Martinez

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Courtesy of Anthony Martinez, St. Patrick liturgy director

Members of Saint Patrick Parish gathered with their neighbors in the community on Oct. 4 to celebrate the Memorial Mass of Saint Francis of Assisi. All were invited to bring their pets for this outdoor Mass, which included a blessing for animals. This is fitting because St. Francis is the patron of animals and the environment. "Francis wrote the Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things ‘All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures,’" said Father Lourduraj Gally Gregory, pastor of St. Patrick Parish, during the Mass. Fr. Gally Gregory went on to talk about the creation and how "the bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye to eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love." Before the blessing of animals, Fr. Gally Gregory said, "No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated."