Blessing of the Animals, Oct 5 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Concord

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 5 at 4 PM. The Reverend Tony Buquor, Trinity’s Rector, will bless our animal friends on Trinity’s sheltered main entrance at 81 Elm Street in Concord. The blessing will be held rain or shine.

This custom is conducted in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology whose remembrance day is October 4, 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 NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services). NEADS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides highly skilled assistance dogs for people who are deaf or have a disability, including wounded combat veterans.

For further information about Trinity’s October 5 Blessing of the Animals, and other events at Trinity Episcopal Church, please visit our web page, http://www.trinityconcord.org or call our Parish office, 978/369-3715.