Priests Bless Animals at Manila Church for St. Francis Feast

Wagging tails, purrs, and even the slow crawl of a pet snail filled Malate Church in Manila as the parish celebrated the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi with a special blessing for animals on Sunday, October 4. The feast day, observed annually on October 4, honors St. Francis, known for his humility, compassion, and deep love for all living creatures.

Parishioners lined up to have their beloved pets, predominantly dogs and cats, sprinkled with holy water by a priest. This tradition at Malate Church is a way for the community to express gratitude for the unconditional love, joy, and companionship that their animal friends provide.

"We are blessing the animals and plants and this is so much in relation to the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi ... so the Malate parish has been advocating this one," said Father Leonito Distor, parish priest of Malate Church. He noted that many parishes opt to hold community animal blessings or St. Francis service events on the first Sunday of October for greater convenience.

For many pet owners, the blessing was a meaningful way to honor St. Francis' call to respect and care for all of God's creation. "They are part of our family... Not exactly like us in the sense that they can’t speak, but they do have emotions," said Gaudine Supnet, a 32-year-old nurse who brought her four Shih Tzus. "I want them to feel, in some way, that we are grateful for their presence in our lives; that’s why we have them blessed."

In addition to the blessings, the church organized free vaccinations for dogs and cats in the church parking lot, further extending the celebration of animal welfare.