Our annual pet blessing, in Commemoration of St. Francis, will take place Sunday, October 2nd at the beginning of the 11am Holy Mass. The Mass will take place in the parish hall. Well behaved dogs, cats, fish, birds and all God’s creatures are invited with their owners. The blessing will be given in Commemoration of Saint Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4). As we know, animals trusted St. Francis and he treated them with courtesy. Near the end of his life St. Francis composed a song of praise and thanks to God for all his creations, called “Canticle to Brother Sun” – also known as the “Canticle of the Creatures.” From this song we know that St. Francis did not perceive himself isolated from other creatures. He simply assumed that all creatures – not only humans – form one family of creation. So we are encouraged to bless and praise God with cats, dogs, birds and all God’s creatures.
Holy Cross Church
One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Democratic – 220 Browertown Rd., Woodland Park, NJ 07424 | 201-247-4832 (cell) or 973-256-4888