Methuen Catholic, the parishes of St. Monica and St. Lucy, hosted a Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 6 to commemorate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Dogs, cats and other animals – along with their owners – gathered outside St Lucy’s Church where Father Michael Harvey led the service and anointed the fury creatures with holy water. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition in the Catholic Church to celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, an Italian priest from the 12th century who is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
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- Father Michael Harvey blesses Simba, a long-haired domestic cat who belongs to Kristina Ofoedu. ML photos by Yadira Betances Muldoon
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- Pet lizards need blessings too!
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- Father Harvey blesses Boston terrier Hazel Mae, held by her owner Kathy DeMartini. Hazel Mae is recovering from heart surgery.
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- Father Harvey blesses Diesel, a German shepherd as Clarissa Berube looks on.
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- Father Harvey leads the Blessing of the Animals outside of St. Lucy’s Church on Oct. 6. This tradition is carried out in honor of St. Francis of Assisi who loved the environment and all of God’s creatures.
