Blessings for Our Furry Friends: St. Francis Day at Malate Church
MANILA (AP) — It’s a joyful day filled with wagging tails and gleeful faces as Malate Church in Manila celebrated its annual blessing for pets on October 4, honoring the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.
St. Francis is esteemed for his humility and deep love for all living beings. Many Catholic parishes hold animal blessing events on the first Sunday of October to commemorate this day. At Malate Church, parishioners brought their beloved pets—primarily dogs, but also cats and even a pet snail—for a special blessing.
Father Leonito Distor, the parish priest, explained, “We are blessing the animals and plants… This aligns with the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.” Attendees queued up as a priest sprinkled holy water on their pets, reflecting their gratitude for the unconditional love these animals bring into their lives.
For pet owner Gaudine Supnet, a 32-year-old nurse with four Shih Tzu dogs, the blessing was a way of expressing appreciation. She stated, “They are part of our family… I want them to feel, in some way, that we are grateful for their presence in our lives.”
Additionally, the church organized free vaccinations for dogs and cats in the parking lot, reinforcing the community’s commitment to caring for all of God’s creation.
