Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis with a Blessing of the Animals

Dogs, cats, chicken, a calf(!) and other beloved pets joined us on Friday for our annual Blessing of the Animals in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

While the weather moved this year’s gathering indoors to the gym, our BBCS families still brought plenty of furry friends to take part in this special tradition! Those that couldn’t bring their pets brought photographs and drawings for the blessing and left with a prayer to read at home. Fr. Duane also followed through on his promise of bringing a hippo, much to the delight of students!

Celebrated each year on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis honors a saint remembered for his love of God’s creation and his special connection with animals. St. Francis left behind a life of wealth to devote himself to serving God, and tradition tells us that he lived peacefully among the animals and birds, caring for them as part of God’s creation.

The Church’s tradition of blessing animals also recognizes the important role animals play in our lives. For many of us, our pets are cherished members of our families, making this annual blessing a meaningful opportunity to thank God for the joy and companionship they bring us.

During Friday’s gathering, our animals received a special blessing as students, families, and staff came together in prayer.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—and to all of our special visitors who made an ordinary Friday afternoon a little more exciting!