Two parishes out of the many that included Blessing of the Animals events as part of their Feast of St. Francis worship celebrations for 2012 sent in reports and photos to diocesan communications. The fact that St David and St. Paul, Powell River is the parish located at the northwest border of the diocese and that the parish of St. Matthew, Abbotsford is one of the parishes located near the southeast border of the diocese was coincidental.
St. David and St. Paul like St. Matthew, staged a special event for their Pet Blessing and did not transfer the Feast of St. Francis, October 4th to Sunday, October 7th, instead they held their event on the holiday Monday, October 8th.21 people and 17 pets attended the Animal Blessing on that beautiful, early fall morning. Of the 17 pets, one of those “pets” was bees in a jar from a hive, brought by Permaculture Gardener and parishioner Ron Berezan.
Images: Homepage and top The Rev. Adela Torchia blesses Waldo.
Left, Blessing Ron Berezan's bees. Below, people and pets arrive for the Blessing of the Animals.
PHOTOS: Warren Wiley