Now in its 32nd year, the Saint John the Divine Cathedral in Manhattan celebrated the Feast of St. Francis, which includes the beloved “Blessing of The Animals”.
Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment and to help honor that, the church invites pets and animals of all fur, feathers, or scales, to receive a blessing from the clergy.
This includes animal and human family friendly activities, music, games, and performers in animal costumes.
It also gave guests the chance to learn about neighborhood organizations and environmental programs. This also marks the first time since the pandemic started that they could bring guests inside.
There was much more than cats and dogs in attendance, with birds of prey, a horned goat, a fennec fox, an old giant tortoise, a rooster, lizards, and even some huge pet cockroaches!
There was one celebrity sighting at this event in 2019, when comedian John Mulaney and his French bulldog Petunia came for a blessing.
For more preaching pets, check out Friar Moustache the Doggy Monk.