Blessing of the Animals services

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of all of God’s creatures, church communities around Maine will hold Blessing of the Animals prayer services. These include 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street in Dover-Foxcroft, and noon on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 145 Pritham Avenue in Greenville.

Animal lovers are invited to bring their pets to have them blessed and gently sprinkled with holy water. The services are a way of thanking God for the animals that bring companionship and joy to so many.