St. Joseph’s Celebrates Annual Blessing of Pets
Local News
On a sunny Monday, students, families, and their beloved pets gathered at St. Joseph Catholic Church for the annual blessing of pets, a tradition held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. This year’s event was celebrated a day later than usual to accommodate the participation of students from St. Joseph School.
Rev. Richard Tomasone led the blessing ceremony, reminding attendees of the essential role animals play in both God’s creation and in the lives of individuals. “The blessing of the pets reminds us that, as pets are a part of our world, they feel blessed by God, particularly as they elicit a response and love from us,” Tomasone emphasized.
During the event, he read passages from the Book of Genesis and spoke on the significance of animals throughout Scripture, before sprinkling holy water on the pets present. For students unable to bring their furry friends, drawings or photographs were brought for inclusion in the blessing.
Fourth-grader Kaidence Clopp expressed her affection for her dog, Lola, stating that having her blessed was meaningful for her. “I really love her a lot, so to have her be blessed is nice because I just love her so much,” she said.
Kenzie Philips brought pictures of her pets, Cooper and Kallie, to ensure they received blessings even though they couldn’t attend. St. Joseph student Maverick McKinney, along with his father, brought their cat, Penelope, who has been a part of the blessing event in past years. They shared that the blessing helps keep their pets happy, healthy, and safe throughout the year.
The gathering featured a variety of animals, predominantly dogs and cats. Rev. Tomasone reminisced about a previous year when a large pig was brought in for a blessing on a leash.
The event concluded with a final prayer for the continued protection and sustenance of the animals and the people who care for them. The annual blessing serves not only as a celebration of pets but also as a reflection on the vital roles that animals play in the lives of families and the Catholic faith.
Maverick McKinney, father, and their cat Penelope attend the pet blessing event on Monday.
St. Joseph School student Kenzie Philips with a photograph of her pets to be blessed.
