The following parishes have announced pet blessings in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), whose feast day is Oct. 4.
Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, informally named Francesco, he was an Italian Catholic friar, deacon, and preacher. He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land. He is the patron saint of the environment and animals because he loved all creatures, and it is said he even preached to the birds.
Assumption BVM, Bethlehem – Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m., St. Michael School courtyard.
Annunciation BVM (St. Mary), Catasauqua – Sunday, Oct. 6, 12:30 p.m., parking lot.
Assumption BVM, Slatington – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, parking lot at main church entrance, abvm@ptd.net, 610-767-2214.
Divine Mercy, Shenandoah – Sunday, Oct. 6, 11:15 a.m., St. Casimir Church parking lot, parish office 570-462-1968.
Holy Family, Minersville – Thursday, Oct. 3, after 8 a.m. Mass (8:30 to 9 a.m.), handicap parking lot of St. Michael the Archangel, Sunbury Street.
Holy Family, Nazareth – Thursday, Oct. 3 (day before feast day), 10:45 and 11:15 a.m., church parking lot, 410 W. Center St., animals must be leashed or crated; if cancelled due to rain, will be posted on our Facebook page by 10 a.m.
Holy Guardian Angels, Reading – Friday, Oct. 4; 9 a.m. for school families, meet in front of school; 5:30 p.m. for parish family, meet by chapel; all animals are welcomed to be blessed; if we need to bless an animal in a vehicle, we will be happy to do so; all animals must be leashed, caged, or contained as applicable; this year the St. Vincent de Paul Society is partnering with our school in support of the students’ fall service project; animal supplies will be collected and donated to Animal Rescue League and Humane Society; items include dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food (Purina preferred), canned kitten food, soft dog treats, and cat treats; wish list at www.berksarl.org/wishlist-2/; questions rectory 610-921-2729.
Immaculate Conception, Douglassville – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:30 p.m., in front of church, please bring pets leashed or caged for their safety.
Notre Dame of Bethlehem – Sunday Oct. 6, 1:15 p.m., school parking lot next to the grotto, will be canceled if it rains.
Queenship of Mary, Northampton – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, in front of convent, behind church, 1324 Newport Ave.
Sacred Heart, Palmerton – Friday, Oct. 4, 2:15 p.m., church parking lot, animals leashed or caged for safety, rectory office 610-826-2335.
Sacred Heart, West Reading – Friday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m., outside gathering area in front of church; Blessed are you, Lord Our God, in all your creatures.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath – Friday, Oct. 4, noon, church parking lot, rain or shine.
SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton – Friday, Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m., Coal Street parking lot, no preregistration necessary.
St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, in front of parish center; for the peacefulness of all, be sure your beloved pet is leashed or caged; in event of inclement weather, please remain in car and drive around church circle, and Monsignor Edward Zemanik will bless your pet in the car.
St. Anne, Bethlehem – Friday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., school parking lot.
St. Catharine of Siena, Reading – Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m., church pavilion, 4975 Boyertown Pike.
St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland and St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville – Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m., Frackville grove behind St. Joseph the Worker, with Father Giuseppe Esposito, frackvillerc3@verizon.net.
St. Columbkill, Boyertown – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, church parking lot.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pen Argyl – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, in front of church, please make sure animals are leashed or caged for their safety.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall – Friday, Oct. 4, 7:45 a.m., big parking lot, with Father Joseph Kweder, please use entrance nearest the funeral home and park in the back rows.
St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown – Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., parking lot between church and school building, please all animals be under control of their owners by leash or in a crate or carrier, questions parish office 610-433-6102.
St. John Fisher, North Catasauqua – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m., on green between church and rectory; all animals and even their owners are welcome.
St. Joseph, Summit Hill – Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m., church parking lot, all animals welcome to be blessed, all pets must remain in custody of their owners; if we need to bless an animal in the car, we will be happy to do so.
St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville and St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland – Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m., Frackville grove behind St. Joseph the Worker, with Father Guiseppe Esposito, frackvillerc3@verizon.net.
St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield – Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m., church parking lot near three-car garage; in event of rain, blessing will be under canopy.
St. Mary, Hamburg – Sunday, Oct. 6, 12:30 p.m., parking lot in front of church, pets should be in carrier or on a leash, Laura Ludovici, parish secretary, 610-562-7657, stmaryhamburg@aol.com.
St. Nicholas, Walnutport – Sunday, Oct. 16 12:30 p.m., parking lot.
St. Patrick, Pottsville – Sunday, Oct. 6, 2 p.m., church “barking” lot, Mahantongo Street; join Father Philip Rodgers with your dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, etc.
St. Peter, Coplay – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m., church grounds.
St. Peter the Fisherman, Lake Harmony – Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City – Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m., St. Teresa Rectory porch, Catawissa Street, Father Kevin Gallagher will bless pets; all four-legged, furry, slithering, oinking, or barking animals are welcome.
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown – Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m., on church grounds, near statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
St. Thomas More, Allentown – Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., pavilion behind church.
St. Ursula, Fountain Hill – Sunday, Oct. 6, noon, church parking lot.
Image: Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds, Antonio Carnicero, 1788 - 1789.
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