Pastor Darick Biondi asks a prayer of blessing upon a pet on Sunday, April 27th, at Valley Park in Hurricane.

The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, known for his deep love of all God’s creatures. The Blessing is usually celebrated annually around October 4th, the date of the Feast of St. Francis. The Rev. Andy Bird of St. Timothy’s-in-the-Valley and Pastor Darick Biondi of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church thought it appropriate to conduct a springtime Blessing of the Animals and joined with 15 to 20 pet owners at the large shelter at Valley Park at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, for that purpose.

“We ask blessings upon our food and other needs daily. There is no reason to limit blessings upon our pets to a single occasion each year,” Biondi said. Blessing of the animals combines spiritual reflection, gratitude, and care for God’s creatures to bring a deeper awareness of human-animal relationship and the responsibility to protect and cherish all forms of life.

The observance commenced with prayer and the song, The Friendly Beasts. A special offering was taken for support of the Putnam County Animal Shelter. The closing prayer asked that all present might be good stewards of all which has been given in accordance to God’s will.