Pet Blessings Set For Saturday And Sunday Near Oak Lawn

OAK LAWN, IL—St. Francis would be happy to know that pets all over the Chicago area will be blessed at dozens of Archdiocese of Chicago parishes and other venues Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4.

All four Oak Lawn Catholic parishes—St. Gerald, Our Lady at St. Germaine, St. Catherine of Alexandria and Our Lady of the Ridge-St. Linus—will celebrate with outdoor services.

Furry, feathery, fluffy, slimy, scaly and spikey friends of all shapes and sizes are welcome to the celebrations. The blessings are in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

“God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help,” St. Francis once said. “Each being, human or creature, has the same right of protection.”

Bring your beloved animals for a blessing to their health, happiness and protection. Even if blessed, God also knows that pets can be mischievous, so please keep your pets leashed or in a carrier.

Here are local pet blessings happening around the Oak Lawn area and South Side. For a complete list of pet blessings happening in the Chicago area, visit Archdiocese of Chicago Pet Blessings.

Pet owners are advised to check ahead with parishes in case of time changes:

Saturday, Oct. 3

• Our Lady at St. Germaine, 9700 S. Kolin Ave., Oak Lawn, 1 p.m. in the soccer field.
• St. Catherine of Alexandria, 10621 S. Kedvale Ave., Oak Lawn, 12:30 p.m.
• St. Gerald, 9310 S. 55th Court, Oak Lawn, 11 a.m.
• Sacred Heart Parish’s (Palos Hills) blessing will take place at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11007 S. 76th Ave., Worth
• St. Procopius-Providence of God, 1641 S. Allport St., Chicago, in the St. Procopius Guadalupe Garden, West 18th Street and South Allport Street.

• Sts. Bruno and Richard, at the St. Bruno worship site, 4751 S. Harding Ave., Chicago, 1 p.m..

Sunday, Oct. 4

• Our Lady of the Ridge-St. Linus, 10300 S. Lawler Ave., Oak Lawn, noon in the parking lot.
• St. Gianna, at James Sexton Park, 91st and Rockwell, Evergreen Park, 1 p.m.
• Two Holy Martyrs at the St. Rene Goupil worship site, 6949 W. 63rd Pl., Chicago, in the
• parking lot., 1:30 pm
• St. Thomas the Apostle, 5472 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago, in front of the church. 6 p.m.