Diocesan Pet Blessings | Parish Good News

This year, parishes across our diocese celebrated the Feast of St Francis of Assisi through the blessing of parishioners' pets.

On Sunday 4^th October, parishes from across the Diocese held special blessings for pets in addition to their usual Sunday Masses. Held in honour of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi and part of a long-standing tradition within the Church, these blessings celebrate the patronage that St Francis has over ecology and animals.

To commemorate not only the special year of 800 years since the death of St Francis but also their 170^th anniversary year, St Edward the Confessor’s in Romford joined in the festivities by blessing a cohort of parishioners’ dogs and cats. Fr Dominic explained:

“I have never done this before but as its 800th Anniversary of St Francis of Assisi and 170th Anniversary of St Edward the Confessor RC Church Romford it seemed a good day to begin.”

Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Tilbury also held a similar pet blessing ritual, whilst the Parish of Our Lady & St Helen in Westcliff also offered blessings at the end of each Mass on the day.

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Although the tradition of blessing pets is carried out today on or around the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the tradition of blessing animals is thought to date back to the Early Church, when St Anthony of Egypt (3^rd-4^th c.) was asked to bless the livestock of shepherds and farmers. In other countries, pet blessings also occur on St Anthony’s feast day on the 17^th January.

Did your parish take part in the festivities on the Feast of St Francis this year?