The Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day will be conjointly celebrated with a special blessing of the animals service in the Brisbane Catholic Parish of Annerley / Ekibin on Sunday, October 6th.
The service is to be held at 9am on Sunday at St John Fisher Church, Holland Park West (Corner of Pozieres and Messines Ridge Rd). It will conclude by 10am.
Animal owners are invited to bring their pets along for a traditional blessing by the parish priest, Fr John Worthington SM, that encompasses all the animals on earth.
A short parade around the church grounds then follows before the gathering enters the church to conclude the mass.
This annual event has been celebrated by the Parish for the past three years.
According to the PETNET Australia website, the objectives of World Animal Day are “to highlight the enjoyable aspects of pet ownership and recognize the important contribution animals make to society”.
The Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi is commemorated as World Animal Day because he is the Patron Saint of all animals.
St Francis was a 13th century Italian who eschewed his family wealth in favour of a life of poverty and charity toward others.
As the founder of the order of Franciscan monks, he embraced all God’s creatures and referred to the animals as his brothers and sisters.
The Catholic Parish of Annerley / Ekibin extends a warm invitation to all pet lovers to bring along their pets and receive Christ’s blessings.