St. Francis Day was celebrated this year on October 4, but if you missed the time-honored Christian tradition of taking your pet to church for a blessing, Central Christian Church will gather on Sunday, October 28 for the annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.  

St. Francis was an Italian friar, deacon, and preacher.  He is widely acknowledged as the patron saint of animals and various legends attest to his love for nature and the environment. 

Central shares that same love for animals, nature and environment.  Nearly twelve years ago the church designated one acre of its grounds for a community dog park where people can come and sit under the shade of mature live oaks, read or visit with other dog owners while the dogs play unleashed in the fenced-in park. 

Join people through-out the community as they gather with their furried best friend for a blessing and a good time Sunday afternoon at 3:30 in Central’s Community Dog Park.   

Music, refreshments, a door prize and treats for the dogs are part of the celebration. Each dog will receive a St. Francis Medallion to wear on his or her collar to commemorate the blessing. 

St. Francis is said to have preached to a group of birds without one flying away and to have stopped a wolf from attacking the Italian town of Gubbio by making the sign of the cross and commanding it not to hurt anyone.  

Not only the animals, but all who attend will leave feeling blessed! Hope to see you in the dog park.