The following parishes have announced pet blessings in early October, in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226).
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. His feast day is Oct. 4.
Annunciation BVM (St. Mary), Catasauqua – Sunday, Oct. 2, 12:30 p.m., parish parking lot, pets must be leashed or in carriers, contact if needed kim.stmarys122@gmail.com.
Assumption BVM, Slatington – Sunday, Oct. 9, noon, church parking lot; please have pets contained with leashes, pet carriers, etc.
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown – Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m., rear parking garage off St. George Street, please be sure all pets are properly leashed.
Divine Mercy, Shenandoah – Sunday, Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m., St. Casimir Church parking lot.
Holy Family, Nazareth – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10:45 and 11:15 a.m., church parking lot, all animals must be leashed or crated; if rain, see church website for cancellation information www.holyfamilynazarethpa.org.
Holy Guardian Angels, Reading – Tuesday, Oct. 4; 9 a.m. for school families, meet in front of the school; 5:30 p.m. for parish family, meet by the 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; support our school service project collecting animal supplies to be donated to Animal Rescue League, wish list at www.berksarl.org/wishlist-2/; drop off in vestibule of main school entrance during school office hours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m., through Oct. 4; questions Tricia Christ 610-921-2729, ext. 2202 or tchrist@hgaparish.com.
Immaculate Conception, Douglassville – Sunday, Oct. 2, 1:30 p.m., front steps of church, pets need to be properly restrained by leash or cage; contact if needed secretary@icbvm.org, 610-582-2411.
Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally – Saturday, Oct. 1, 5:30 p.m., church parking lot.
Most Blessed Trinity, Tremont – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. (after evening Mass), bring pets or even just their picture, please bring leashed or in carrier.
Notre Dame of Bethlehem – Sunday, Oct. 2, 1:30 p.m., Blessed Mother’s Grotto (parking lot by school).
Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown – Sunday, Oct. 2, 2 p.m., front of church, contact if needed rectory 610-432-9384.
Queenship of Mary, Northampton – Sunday, Oct. 9, noon, convent behind church, 610-262-2227.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath – Tuesday, Oct. 4, after daily 8 a.m. Mass, church parking lot, rain or shine.
St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven – Sunday, Oct. 2, noon, parish center parking lot, donations to local SPCA will be accepted; contact if needed stambroseoffice@comcast.net, 570-385-1031.
St. Ann, Emmaus – Saturday, Oct. 1, noon, church grounds, contact if needed 610-965-2426.
St. Anne, Bethlehem – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., school parking lot.
St. Benedict, Mohnton – Sunday, Oct. 2, noon.
St. Catharine of Siena, Reading – Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m., pavilion.
St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland and St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville – Sunday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m., St. Joseph the Worker Parish Grove behind St. Ann Church, 99 N. Line St., Frackville; both parishes will be included in pet blessing; contact if needed Teri Krolick 570-874-0610, ext. 4 (Frackville) or Abby Smith 570-875-1521 (Ashland).
St. Columbkill, Boyertown – Sunday, Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:45 a.m., parish parking lot across from hall and school, please have all pets leashed or caged, contact if needed 610-266-0695.
St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m., parking lot between church and school, rain or shine; please all animals be under the control of their owners by leash, or in a crate or carrier; this is a wonderful opportunity to do something special for those creatures of God that bring us such joy.
St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring – Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m., behind rectory, join Father Zachary Wehr with your animals/pets.
St. John the Baptist, Whitehall – Sunday, Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m., church parking lot, weather permitting; please have all pets under control, crated or leashed.
St. John Fisher, North Catasauqua – Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 p.m., on green between church and rectory; all animals, and even their owners, are welcome.
St. Joseph, Coopersburg – Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m., under pavilion, all pets must be on leash and/or contained, contact if needed janessa.odonnell@stjoescoopersburg.org.
St. Joseph, Sheppton – Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.
St. Joseph, Summit Hill – Saturday, Oct. 1, noon, church parking lot, all animals welcome to be blessed, all pets must remain in custody of their owners; if a pet needs to be blessed in the car, we will be more than happy to do so.
St. Joseph the Worker, Frackville and St. Charles Borromeo, Ashland – Sunday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m., St. Joseph the Worker Parish Grove behind St. Ann Church, 99 N. Line St., Frackville; both parishes will be included in pet blessing; contact if needed Teri Krolick 570-874-0610, ext. 4 (Frackville) or Abby Smith 570-875-1521 (Ashland).
St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield – Sunday, Oct. 2, 12:30 p.m., church parking lot by three-car garage, contact if needed Father Francis Iroot, 610-395-2876.
St. Mary, Hamburg – Tuesday, Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m., church parking lot, animals should be on leash or in carrier.
St. Mary, Ringtown – Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m.
St. Patrick, Pottsville – Sunday, Oct. 2, noon, church “barking” lot, Mahantongo Street; join Father Philip Rodgers with your dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, etc.
St. Peter, Coplay – Sunday, Oct. 2, 1 p.m., Heritage Center grounds; contact if needed Lina at rectory 610-262-2417.
St. Peter the Fisherman, Lake Harmony – Saturday, Oct. 1, noon, parish grounds.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City – Saturday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m., St. Cecilia yard on 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. 1, 1 p.m., gather at Our Lady of Fatima statue outside church, contact if needed Isabella Latassa 484-241-1296.
St. Ursula, Fountain Hill – Sunday, Oct. 2, 12:30 p.m., parking lot, contact if needed 610-867-5122.