St. Albert the Great Parish has marked the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on the first Sunday in October with a blessing of our pets since 2014. St. Francis is associated with a love of nature through his beautiful prayer, The Canticle of the Sun, which praises the beautiful elements of nature and the earth as God’s gifts to humans. St. Francis is also credited with saving a village from a wolf that was ravaging the sheep and terrorizing villagers. St. Francis talked to the wolf and as a result, it didn’t terrorize the village, was always fed by the villagers and everyone was safe and happy. St. Francis is also associated with feeding the birds. So, for Francis’ love of nature and animals, he is considered the Patron Saint of Pets.
In years past, pet owners would gather on the front lawn of the school for some pet sociability. Owners could talk to each other, and dogs would be as social as their owners would allow. There was a lot of conversation, mingling, laughter, and fellowship. There have been bunnies, kitties, a hedgehog, a miniature horse that rode in an SUV, pet turtles, other small animals in cages and carriers, and of course plenty of dogs.
This year the blessing on Sunday, October 3, will look a bit different, due to COVID precautions, and instead of a large gathering in front of the school, the blessing will take place as a Drive Thru. Cars can start lining up for the blessing at 12:45 p.m., after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Please enter from Wallings Road. Form a single line in Parking Lot B; be sure to follow the parking lot attendants directing the traffic flow! Multiple lines may form in Parking Lot B when the single line becomes too long. The pet blessing will be a Drive Thru only at the front of the Parish Life Center, with each car receiving a medal, prayer card, a dog treat, and Creation Care information.
We love our pets; they give us comfort, support, service, exercise, entertainment, and most of all love. Come for a blessing of the pet members of your family at St. Albert the Great Church, 6667 Wallings Road, Sunday October 3, at 12:45 p.m. The blessing will rub off on you.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer

It’s time to show off our resident pets. Send us a photo of your pet (or you with your pet) with their names. We will show them off on special pages featuring all our cute and cuddly pets!

Please submit photos by Sept. 27, 2021.     To send pet photos: Go to our website at royaltonrecorder.com
or email your photo to:  news@royaltonrecorder.com