Blessings Of The Animals

On Saturday, October 4, there will be Blessings of the Animals at several Newtown churches in celebration of the feast of St Francis of Assisi.

The day will begin with the blessing at the parish grounds of St Rose Church on Church Hill Road, near the spot where the stable is set up each year for the living nativity.

“God has given us pets and all living things to give us joy, and on Saturday, we share in His love for all creation,” explained Pam Arsenault, religious education director at St Rose.

At 10 am, Trinity Episcopal Church will hold its eighth annual Blessing of Animals in the playground by the lower parking lot. (Originally this had been scheduled for October 12.)

At 1 pm all furred, feathered, and finned pets are invited to a blessing at St John’s Episcopal Church on Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook.

The events are open to all. Pets should be under control and on a leash or lead or in a cage at all times for safety.