Blessing of the Animals, Oct 4 at Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord invites you and your pets -- the more exotic the better; cats in carriers, please! -- to the annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4 at 4 PM. This Blessing of the Animals takes place at Trinity’s sheltered front entrance at 81 Elm Street in Concord and will be held rain or shine. This is a wonderful way to remind children of all ages that all of God’s creatures are blessed and loved. Photos of pets who are either not so portable or no longer living will also be blessed, and any special toy animals are welcomed, too!

This custom is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology (whose remembrance day is in early October) and his love for all creatures. St. 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.” Many centuries after St. Francis, our pets provide companionship, share our joys and sorrows, and teach us in many ways about the gift of love.

Following the Blessing of the Animals, there will be tasty treats for creatures as well as their humans! A free-will offering will be accepted to assist Forgotten Angels Cat Shelter (www.forgottenangelsshelter.org/) in Westford.

For further information about Trinity’s October 4 Blessing of the Animals or other events at Trinity Episcopal Church, please visit our web page, http://www.trinityconcord.org or call our Parish office, 978/369-3715 to receive an electronic copy of our Newsletter.