Animals to Be Blessed at Ceremony

A traditional blessing of the animals ceremony will be held Oct. 4 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore.

“Pets of all faiths are welcome,” said Michael Lara, director of religious education for the church.

“We’ve had iguanas, birds--people like to decorate their cages--and lots of puppies; sometimes people put bows on their dogs,” Lara said, adding that the largest animal he remembers being blessed at the traditional ceremony was a pig.

During the ceremony, holy water is sprinkled on the animals.

Lara added that anyone may use a prayer by Albert Schweitzer to bless their own pets at home that day:

“Oh Heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath. Guard them from all evil and let them sleep in peace.”

The outdoor ceremony will get underway at 6 p.m. Lara added that it is also traditional on Oct. 4, the day St. Francis is remembered, “to put out seed or bread for birds, share nuts or crackers with squirrels or leave a little something outside for the rabbits, raccoons or opossums that travel at night.”