PLATTSBURGH — Fifi, Dash, and Spike may want their humans to take them to the Blessing of the Animals, Saturday Oct. 12 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church located at 34 Brinkerhoff St. in Plattsburgh.
There will be a guest singer and a storybook reading. The Blessing of the Animals will occur on the front lawn directly across from the Strand Theater. All are welcome.
“It’s a tradition that goes back a lot of years in several churches, and it’s usually around St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day (today),” the Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Luoma said.
“We are doing ours a little bit later. It’s just an opportunity for people to come and recognize that animals are God’s creatures as well. So that’s an opportunity for them to come. We did this when I was in Ohio, and even had someone bring in a horse.
“So, that was interesting. You never know what’s going to show up. I suppose someone could bring a cow even. But usually, it’s just mostly dogs and cats. I will do my best to bless snakes, even though I am kind of scared of them.”
St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, is the patron saint of birds and animals.
“He was known for going for going into the woods and preaching to the animals,” Luoma said.
“He was very, what we call, earthy-crunchy now. He was very down to earth.”