Blessing of the Animals 2016

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 was St. Francis Day in many Catholic and protestant churches, and parishioners brought their pets to area churches for a special blessing. The Spokesman-Review went to a few churches to watch the blessing ceremonies.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Oct. 2, 2016

Debbie Halstead holds her two miniature shih tzu/toy poodle mix dogs, Max and Odie, while waiting for a blessing for them at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Brian Shute holds his banty Sebright chicken at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Debbie Halstead holds her two miniature shih tzu/toy poodle mix dogs, Max and Odie, while waiting for a blessing for them at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
The church provided doggie treats for parishioners with animals were available at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Dogs are greeted at the door at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 and wait for the Blessing of the Animals, a tradition in many churches on St. Francis Day.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Selena Parris, 11, and Mike Dragan sit with their two Chihuahua mixes named Jack and Henry at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 and wait for the Blessing of the Animals, a tradition in many churches on St. Francis Day.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
A dog peaks into the center aisle at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 as animals and their owners wait for the Blessing of the Animals, a tradition in many churches on St. Francis Day, which happened later in the service.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Some in the cathedral choir, singing as they enter the center aisle at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. for the Blessing of the Animals, are accompanied by their dogs. The blessing is a tradition in many churches on St. Francis Day, which happened late in the service.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Seiko, an 18-month-old Keeshond belonging to pianist Carol Miyamoto, peeks out from under the piano bench while Miyamoto plays musical accompaniment at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Pastor Eric Dull, left, blesses Willow, a Rottweiler-shepherd owned by Rachael Manz, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on St.Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
While she and other dog owners try to keep their dogs content during the morning service, Nola Lohman lets her dog on her lap at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Pet owner Fred Stahl, left, approaches Pastor Kate LePard for a blessing for his bowl of Madagascar cockroaches, including one on his shirt, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Dogs struggle to make friends during the sunday service at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
After the pastor asks the congregation to greet each other, the dogs on hand for the blessing try to greet each other as well at St. Mark's Lutheran Church Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, which is St. Francis Day. The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition on Francis' day and animals were welcome during the morning service at St. Mark's.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review