Oakland pet blessing held for animals and the homeless
Communities across the United States marked the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi by welcoming pets for outdoor blessings, continuing an 800-year-old tradition rooted in the saint’s affinity for animals and ecology. The annual celebrations drew cat owners, dog handlers, and exotic pet enthusiasts alike to local parishes, cathedrals, and schools.
Oakland Parks and Parishes Host Community Pet Events
In Oakland, a mellow atmosphere at St. Vincent de Paul on San Pablo Avenue, where crowds lined the block with cats and dogs. The event specifically served the pets of homeless individuals, drawing support from Oakland Animal Services, Project Pet, Asian Health Services, Health Care for the Homeless, Maddie’s Fund, Petco, and St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County. These organizations provided free leashes, harnesses, pet food, toys, and medical care including vaccinations. Father Jayson Landeza, pastor of St. Benedict and Divine Mercy parishes, presided over the blessings alongside local chaplains and representatives from the FBI, Secret Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Attendees brought a wide variety of animals to the Oakland site. Angel from San Leandro arrived with seven Doberman-husky puppies named Floppy, Fingers, Gloves, 4-Eyes, and Canello, leaving their mother Mocha at home to rest. Kylie from Berkeley brought her pug, Valentine, while another participant named Malala brought a small dog named Whiskers. Chabot College students Ingrid and Lesly brought a whippet-Chihuahua mix named Brunitta on behalf of a friend who was studying for an exam. Chet of Oakland attended with Flower, a four-year-old rescue dog he adopted six months prior.
Churches Nationwide Welcome Animals for Blessings
Across the country, Episcopal and Catholic congregations hosted similar gatherings. Episcopal News Service reported that churches nationwide welcomed animals ranging from traditional household pets to farm animals. All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City and St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Burlington, Wisconsin, invited various creatures to church grounds. Christ Episcopal Church in Lancaster, South Carolina, welcomed hamsters, turtles, birds, snakes, llamas, and giraffes, while St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Ooltewah, Tennessee, featured a parade including insects, fish, alpacas, horses, pigs, donkeys, goats, and ducks.
Several locations incorporated educational components into their celebrations. St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville, Florida, hosted presentations by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department’s Canine Unit and a local reptile nonprofit, alongside pet adoption visits from local rescue groups. Other parishes, such as St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle, handed out St. Francis medals to visiting animals.
Denominations Honor 800th Anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi
The global events coincided with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who died on October 3, 1226. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Jan. 10 of this year through Jan. 10 of next year as the Year of St. Francis of Assisi to honor the 800th anniversary of the saint’s transition to heaven (actually Oct. 3, 1226), and Lutherans and Episcopalians are joining the celebration. While historically a Catholic figure, St. Francis is also included on Lutheran and Episcopalian liturgical calendars. The Episcopal Church’s 2022 Book of Occasional Services provides a specific spoken blessing for the occasion, noting that animals share the earth and rely on divine preservation.
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church has passed ten resolutions since 2003 affirming the spiritual significance of pets and service animals, including adopting prayers for caretakers and for coping with the loss of a companion animal.
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