Blessing of the Animals event on October 4
Contact: Sarah Bello
CMH Chaplain Lori Blake holding event in CMH Labyrinth
In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, CMH Chaplain Lori Blake will hold a Blessing of the Animals event on Friday, October 4, at noon.
Anyone from the community is welcome to bring their pet or a photo of their pet for a short blessing and ceremony in the CMH Labyrinth (2111 Exchange St., Astoria). Blake will read a brief Scripture passage and bless each pet with a sprinkling of water from the Jordan River in the Holy Land. A sound bath with Reiki will also be available for pets and their owners facilitated by CMH volunteer Ben DeFrancisco.
“For years, CMH has welcomed pet therapy animals and patients’ pets onto our campus as part of our Planetree philosophy and belief in the role animals can play in healing,” Blake says. “Blessing the pets who play important and essential roles in our lives is a small way we can thank them for their love and devotion.”
Ceremonies blessing pets are often held in honor of St. Francis, who lived in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals. October 4 is the Feast Day for St. Francis.