Animals to be Blessed for St. Francis Feast Day

September 26, 2011

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the Catholic patron saint of animals and the environment, more than one hundred people are expected to participate in an outdoor Mass for the Blessing of the Animals.

Saturday, October 1, 2011
5:00 p.m.
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
4902 Berwyn Road
College Park, MD

Everyone is invited to bring their animals to the outdoor Mass for a special blessing and to be sprinkled with Holy Water. Children who do not have pets can bring their stuffed animals. This ceremony commemorates St. Francis of Assisi, who was born on October 4.

Several others parishes will hold similar events, including:

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, 1400 Quincy Street, NE Washington, DC
Sunday, October 2, 2011
1:30 p.m.

Annunciation, 3810 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
8:15am at the parking lot by the school

Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian, 1357 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
6:00 p.m. at the church plaza

St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill, 313 Second Street NE, Washington, DC (with St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
9:30 a.m. on the front lawn

MONTGOMERY COUNTY:

St. Francis of Assisi, 6701 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD
Sunday, October 2, 2011
3:00 p.m. at the parish picnic

St. John the Baptist, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD
Saturday, October 1, 2011
11:00 a.m. on the front lawn

St. Peter, 2900 Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD
Sunday, October 2, 2011
1:30 p.m. by the Blessed Mother grotto

SOUTHERN MARYLAND:

St. Anthony, 8816 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach, MD
Saturday, October 1, 2011
10:00 a.m.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 600,000 Catholics living in Washington, DC and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

Contact:
Brie Hall
Office of Communications
301-853-4512
[email protected]