Blessing of the Pets at St. Edward the Confessor...

Blessing of the Pets at St. Edward Church...

St. Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved all animals, so in honoring this Saint, pets and their owners were invited to St. Edward Church (and St. Jude Church in Norfolk) for a Blessing of Pets on Monday, Oct. 7th.

Approximately a dozen or so dogs attended and surrounded Pastor, Fr. Steve Zukas for a blessing. Other pets (fish, cats and dogs) were brought "remotely", i.e., a photograph of the pet or the pet's image on an iPhone.

Fr. Steve read this prayer: “Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”

The service concluded with each dog (and the photos and iPhones of pets) being gently sprinkled with holy water.

All the pets were very well behaved!