Blessing of the Animals, September 22 at noon

As we learned during our recent Peace Village Camp, St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181) abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the Christian church and live in poverty. During his life he also developed a deep love of nature and animals and is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals; his life and words have had a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe. St. Francis set an example for us someone who cares for others—including nature and our non-human animal friends and companions. Each October, many animals the world over are blessed on his feast day.

And so this year, we want to offer a Blessing of the Animals ceremony to our community—here at DCC and beyond—as a way of honoring animal companions and their special place in our lives. Because we will be at Camp Caz the weekend adjacent to The Feast Day of St. Francis on October 4, we will hold this blessing on Sunday, September 22 at noon here on the church grounds. More information will be available in coming weeks.