The Blessing of the Animals
Each year, on the Sunday closest to St Francis' Day, neighbors and parishioners gather at the church with their favorite non-human companions to receive the Church's blessing in honor of the saint who loved all of God's creatures.
Fr Warren meets Crimini and his human
A little priestly reassurance
Photo by Zaiga Alksnitis
two dogs and their humans
Let's see, the sign says "Blessing..."

row of cats
Fr. Warren's cat Max is second from right. Jake and Jeoffry did not attend.
Emily and toy
Emily and her toy wait for the service to start
the service
Fr Warren reads from the Fioretti ("Little Flowers") of St Francis
prayers
Prayers, under the watchful eye of a hulking giant - a "small" Great Dane
blessing cats
Blessing the cats
blessing dogs
Blessing the gigantic dog
ferret
Breaking up the cat-dog monopoly: a ferret

In 2006, Jake was uncertain about the whole business

In 2007, he was still reluctant; in 2008 he and Jeoffry abstained entirely