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…