Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
At St. Francis Newman Center Parish from left are Jay Ortiz, with his therapy dog Lucy and Coqu+?; Janet Zych with Bailey, Thelma Chavez with her puppy Baby; Mike and Teresa Mar+?n with Chloe and Chino; seminarian Eric Vreeland; and Deacon Jim Hoy.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Turtle Churchy dressed up to be blessed at Gough Park.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Several wait for the blessing to begin.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Three-month-old Frankie, named for St. Francis, snuggles in a purse.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Sister Rita Plante, Frankie's owner, and Sylvia Madrid and Randy wait for the blessing.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Ella Bryn Cahill Jameson, 8, plays with a puppy she wants to take home.Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Karisse Moore, owner of Churchy, and her dog, Lacey.
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday 100116
Father Paul Moore of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd prepares to start the blessing ceremony.
The Blessing of the Animals on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi took place at two locations on Saturday, October 1, 2016.
The first place, appropriately enough, was at St. Francis Newman Center Parish, named after the saint.
The second place was at Gough Park, a joint effort of the Ministerial Alliance of Grant County, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Valley Community Church, United Church of Christ and St. Francis Newman Center.