MANILA, Philippines | Catholic communities in different parts of the Philippines marked the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 with prayers, liturgical activities and blessings for animals, as the annual religious observance coincided with World Animal Day.
In San Pablo City, the parish community of the San Pablo City Cathedral gathered for the feast with several activities, including a Blessing of Pets at 12:30 p.m. and the blessing of teachers after every Holy Mass. The cathedral also blessed an image of St. Francis of Assisi on its facade after the 6:30 p.m. Mass, according to a post from the parish.
The parish said the celebration sought to inspire the faithful, through the intercession of St. Francis, to live with humility, peace and reverence for all of God’s creation.
In Manila, Malate Church also welcomed parishioners with their animals for a special blessing. Dogs, cats and even a pet snail were among those brought to the church, according to The Associated Press. The parish also provided free vaccinations for dogs and cats as part of the observance.
Other Catholic communities and animal welfare organizations also held pet-blessing activities around the country. In Quezon City, the Immaculate Conception Parish in GSIS Village scheduled a blessing of pets after its Sunday Masses, while the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and Pet Express held a separate pet-blessing event at SM City North EDSA.
The observances reflect a long-standing Catholic tradition associated with St. Francis, the Italian friar who lived from about 1181 to 1226 and became known for his simple life, service to the poor and reverence for creation.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis the heavenly patron of those who promote ecology in 1979, citing his example of respect for nature and his concern for the welfare of creation.
October 4 also marks World Animal Day, an international observance dedicated to raising awareness of animal welfare. Its connection with St. Francis stems from the saint’s longstanding association with animals and his broader message of respect for the natural world.
The Catholic Church’s Season of Creation also concludes on October 4, the feast day of St. Francis. The annual observance, which begins on September 1, encourages Christians to reflect on humanity’s responsibility toward creation.
For Filipino pet owners, the annual blessing offers a religious expression of gratitude for animals that have become companions and members of their households. For parishes such as San Pablo City Cathedral and Malate Church, the observance also provides an opportunity to connect faith with a broader message of compassion, responsible care and reverence for creation.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
