All Saints Church in Pasadena will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, Sept. 29, in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis. The event, announced on the church’s Facebook page, invites community members to bring their pets for a special blessing.
The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m., with participants encouraged to arrive by 9:45 a.m. if they wish to join the procession through the church. Attendees are welcome to bring live pets, photographs of animals, or even stuffed toys to receive a blessing.
Following the procession, pets and their owners will adjourn to the outdoor quad lawn for the worship service. The blessing of animals will be included in this outdoor portion of the event, which continues until 11:30 a.m.
The church describes the occasion as a festive morning “blessing all the pets that take such good care of their humans.” All community members are welcome to attend.
The Blessing of Animals is a tradition in many congregations, symbolizing the church’s commitment to God’s creation and environmental stewardship. This practice holds particular appeal for children and serves to strengthen the church’s witness of caring for all creatures.
Typically held outdoors during daylight hours, the Blessing of Animals can accommodate various pets, including larger animals like horses and other livestock. It can be celebrated at various times throughout the year, often associated with the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4th or in early spring.
All Saints Church’s event provides an opportunity for those who may have been absent from religious services to reconnect with the community. On Facebook, the church said, “If you haven’t been to church for a while, this is a great Sunday to dip your toes back in!”
